How Volunteers are Pitching in to Clean Flood-Hit Homes in Kerala

A 23-year-old entrepreneur has brought together a team of volunteers to help clean homes in flood-ravaged Chalakudy.

Volunteers pitch in to clean flood-hit homes in Kerala’s Chalakudy.

(Photo: The Quint)

Video Editor: Abhishek Sharma

With waters in flood-hit Kerala now receding, the next big challenge is the rehabilitation of the people of the state.

The deluge, which had entered most houses in the worst-affected areas, has left behind a trail of mud and sludge for residents to come home to. Most people will return to destroyed furniture and electronic items, making their journey back to normalcy nothing short of a nightmare.

Keeping these difficulties in mind, a 23-year-old entrepreneur and realty developer in Thrissur, Akash Anand, has started a free clean-up service, ably supported by volunteers. His company, Caletal Developers, has spread the word on WhatsApp, assuring victims of a smooth transition back to their flood-affected homes.

In their office in Thrissur, a few volunteers are answering a bevy of calls from across the state. However, since most people have been affected by the floods, not many have offered to volunteer.

For now, a team of 30 volunteers from Palakkad have come in to help with clean-up operations in the district's Chalakudy.

Chalakudy was one of the worst hit areas after the river of the same name broke its banks and flooded the entire town.

Presently, volunteers have divided themselves into three groups and are helping locals of Thiruthiparambu in Chalakudy clean their homes. The Quint was pleasantly surprised to see local police personnel from Aloor police station too helping residents of Thiruthiparambu clean their homes. They were seen scrubbing walls and floors of homes that had been completely submerged in the floods.

However, a lot more needs to be done, before the people of Kerala can get back on their feet and restore any sense of normalcy in their routine.