DEVBHOOMI UTTARAKHAND’S 26 RIVER RAFTERS IN KERALA TO RESCUE PEOPLE IN DISTRESS

While the Southern state of Kerala is almost submerged in heavy deluge with more than 230 dead and lakhs abandoned and thousands still hoping to get out of the inundated villages having taken shelter on roof tops, various state governments including the centre has offered tremendous support in terms of finances, medicines, food, clothings, safety equipments and other forms of support that could lead to the maximum safety and well being of those still entangled in dangerous zones of the state which had been the victim of over excessive rains and subsequent floods.

While the governments, non governmental organisations, doctors, corporate houses ( if any) under CSR, social activists and philanthrophic organisations are doing their best to come to the rescue of our brothers, sisters and children in this deluge affected state about 26 brave, dedicated and duty bound river rafting trainers and adventure sports operators from Rishikesh Uttarakhand are on the ground Zero and extremely busy with zeal and enthusiasm in rescue operations in Kerala.

Hats off to them all. According to Dr. Anoop Nautiyal, the former DG of 108 in Uttarakhand and a known socio political activist : As the rains continue to batter God’s Own Country and relief pours in from all quarters, there is one group of experts that deserves to be singled out for encouragement and applause. And they are none other but the courageous young lads from Devbhoomi, Uttarakhand.

These 26 trained river rafters of Rishikesh Uttarakhand operating in ground zero, now in Cochin, Kerala are carrying out the rescue work under the able and dashing leadership of Praveen Ranger under the direct initiative of ADVENTURE TOUR OPERATORS ASSOCIATION OF INDIA ( ATOAI).

The latest report from ground zero indicates as per the information of VAIBHAV KALA of Atali Ganga that about more than one hundred people in distress were rescued safely till the afternoon of 19th August.

Till 5.00 PM about 350 people had been rescued and evacuated to safer places. The rescuers were twenty kilometres away from Cochin on one of the worst affected areas.

These enthiusiastic rafters extremely serious in their mission not even caring for their own lives are primarily giving preference to the pregnent women, children and senior citizens held up at various locations not able to make out safely.

According to Dr. Anoop Nautiyal – when he spoke to Praveen Rangar, the team leader of the rescue mission at 4.33 PM today he was informed that the boys were 20 kilometres away from Kochi in one of the most affected areas.

Out of 17 rafts that the group is carrying, two have been punctured. They are putting priority for pregnant women, old people and children. This is truly inspiring. Just imagine going to the southern state on your own with personel expenses with so much of life saving equipments by air and saving hundreds of people in distress having stuck in the deluge for days, is something beyond ones’ expectation in these days when nobody cares for anybody.

These adventure sports’ industry had always been of great support during the natural calamities in Uttarakhand and elsewhere, whether it was the massive ecological disaster of 2013, in Kedar Valley, Uttarakhand or now in the southern state of Kerala.

Salutes to you Praveen Rangar and your entire dedicated team of 27 braveheart rafters. God bless you all.