Abu Dhabi: Expatriates from the South Indian State of Kerala shared their horrific experiences of floods back home.
Many people in his area have moved to relief camps opened by the government after their houses were destroyed by floodwater and landslide Government officials and voluntary organisations are putting a lot of efforts, but it will be tough for the people who lost their homes to restart their life, Kuniyil said.
He said railway tracks at Kanjikkode railway station were washed away but the authorities restored them in a few hours.
“Many old people were saying it is the first time after 1924, our district [Palakkad] faced a flood,” Baby said.
Meanwhile, some UAE-based businessmen and voluntary organisations have geared up their efforts for the distressed people.
Yousuf Ali, chairman and MD of LuLu Group has announced Rs50 million (Dh2.65 million) donation to the Kerala chief minister’s relief fund. Apart from this he had donated R20 million (Dh1.06 million) to the prominent newspapers in Kerala last week for their flood relief initiatives.
Dr B.R. Shetty, chairman of Unimoni & UAE Exchange, has contributed R20 million to the chief minister’s fund. He also said hundreds of staff from the Unimoni’s wide network of offices across Kerala have come forward for relief efforts.
Dr Azad Moopen, founder chairman and MD of Aster DM Healthcare has announced Rs5 million (Dh265,000) for the chief minister’s fund. Aster Disaster Support Team comprising 200 medical and non-medical volunteers has started working with local government relief centres to conduct medical camps, health check-ups and provide essential materials for sustenance.
“We donated the past month’s stock of clothes to around 1,000 people in various relief camps in Wayanad, the worst affected district in the state. More people may come forward to donate used clothes in good condition for the flood victims,” Musthafa said.