Dubai: It was “patriotism at it’s peak”, when some residents in the Indian state of Kerala hoisted the country’s flag for #IndianIndependenceDay even as they were waist-deep in flood waters.
Twitter user @Jikkuvarghese posted: “#KeralaFloods... a rare scene on #IndependenceDay. Residents of Kannammoola, Thiruvananthapuram are hoisting the [Indian] national flag despite of the flood. Patriotism at its peak!”
#KeralaFloods This will be rare scene on #IndependenceDay. Residents of Kannammoola, Trivandrum hoisting National flag despite of the flood. Patriotism at its peak! pic.twitter.com/91IDAgcDVB
— Jikku Varghese Jacob (@Jikkuvarghese) August 15, 2018
The hashtag, #KeralaFloods has been trending in the country for the past few weeks as Kerala is reeling under floods due to monsoons. There has been loss of life and property.
Keralites have taken to social media to share the situation across the state.
Like many others, Twitter users @mshareefoa and @deepurevathy posted videos from different areas.
#KeralaFlood pic.twitter.com/diWFdJq6iK
— fatiboams (@mshareefoa) August 14, 2018
Kochi Airport Closed for four days KeralaRain #KeralaFloodReliefs #KeralaFlood #Airport #airplane #train pic.twitter.com/OizOBXphWT
— Deepu Revathy (@deepurevathy) August 15, 2018
Tweep @SudeepSudhakrn highlighted that the situation is worse in tribal and interior parts of the state. He posted a video talking to some villagers and explained: “‘No food left here’, she replied with a faint smile. Hunger and poverty has gripped these tribal villages of Kerala beyond imagination. You can bring back happiness to these homes, make donations and help us.”
Twitter user @CarDroidusMax replied to this and posted: “At the end of the clip, the reporter(off camera) asked the woman: ‘Is there rice?’ Woman said ‘no’. Reporter: ‘Stay here, we will bring food’. He didn’t just stick his mic in, ask: ‘What are your thoughts about the flood?’ and leave. He said, ‘Stay here, we will bring food’.”
At the end of the clip, the reporter(off camera) asks the woman: “Is there rice?”
— The Last Caveman (@CarDroidusMax) August 15, 2018
Woman says no.
Reporter: “Stay here, we will bring food”
He didn’t just stick his mic in, ask “aap ko flood kaisa laga?” and leave. He said, “Stay here, we will bring food” ❤️ https://t.co/mmyT41dJWN
@j9900j also felt that reporters needed to deal with the situation with more sensitivity. The tweep wrote: “These news reporters need maturity in reading out the news... their language generates more pain and fear than any information #KeralaFlood”
These news readers needs maturity in reading out the news.. their language generates more pain and fear than any information #KeralaFlood
— josef job (@j9900j) August 15, 2018
Others showed they hadn’t lost their sense of humour, in the adversity.
Twitter user @IsmailManeesha posted: “My house in Kochi is flooded. It’s declared officially that the ground floor of the house will be serving as a relief camp for reptiles, insects and river fishes of Periyar.”
My house in Kochi is flooded. It's declared officially that the ground floor of the house will be serving as relief camp for reptiles, insects and river fishes of Periyar.
— Maneesha Ismail (@IsmailManeesha) August 15, 2018
Tweep @rahuldharmaji tagged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official Twitter account and wrote: “@PMOIndia dear sir. Hope your kind full support for Kerala, you should visit Kerala to know the actual situation.”
@PMOIndia dear sir
— rahul dev (@rahuldharmaji) August 15, 2018
Hope your kind full support for Kerala, you should visit Kerala to know the actual situation #KeralaFlood
The rain and floods also adversely affected travel plans for many.
The Cochin International Airport was on Wednesday closed till Saturday afternoon after water released from the Idukki dam flooded the area.
In a Facebook post, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) shared an update on the morning of August 15, it said: “CIAL SUSPENDS OPERATIONS TILL 18th August 2018. Kochi Airport operations temporarily suspended till 18th Saturday 2pm since the inflow of water is still on a raising trend. We are working hard to drain out the storm water. All are requested to co-operate.
Emergency control room numbers: +91 484 3053500, 2610094”
Twitter users like @achyutmenon posted information for alternatives. He wrote: “Trivandrum, Calicut airports are operational. And Coimbatore - about 200km from Kochi airport, just in case.”
Trivandrum, Calicut airports are operational. And coimbatore - about 200km from Kochi airport, just in case.
— Achyut Menon (@achyutmenon) August 15, 2018
Like other Twitter users sharing updates, @metalsaint posted: “Sad to see the situation in my #Kerala. Anyone who has planned travel to anywhere in #Kerala, please cancel. We are having a tough time fighting for survival. #Floods #KeralaFlood”
Sad to see the situation in my #Kerala. anyone who has planned travel to anywhere in #Kerala please cancel. We r having a tough time fighting for survival. #Floods #KeralaFlood
— gautham govind (@metalsaint) August 15, 2018