There were cries for help everywhere; A heart-wrenching tale of Nooruddin's harrowing experience

“I heard a loud noise as if the whole earth were shaking. When I think about how I ran for my life, my chest still hurts. Close friends and acquaintances were screaming for their lives in front of my eyes; I couldn't even look back as I continued to run,” recalled Chooralmala ward member Nooruddin, his voice cracking as he recounted the experience. Nooruddin and his team were busy rescuing people in Mundakkai when the warning was issued. Suddenly, everything changed.

“There were cries for help everywhere. People were shouting, please save our lives… I didn't know what to do. I don't know where to go, where to run and what to do. By the time we reached the nearest Madrassa, some people had already reached there. A few others are stranded at another nearby resort. The overall atmosphere was very tragic. Parents who saw their children being swept away—some were mourning the loss of their relatives who were unable to save them, then some lost everything. What do I tell them? What should I say to console them? I kept repeating till dawn that we can escape somehow; don't be afraid; let us wait till sunrise. We were calling everyone frantically on the phone and asking them to somehow rescue us.” As the morning dawned, I thought, “What would I say to pacify them? There is no way to get out of Mundakkai. All we can do is to wait for help to come from outside. There was nothing else to do but cry. I called someone, but I did not know who, and screamed for their help to come rescue us. I don't know how I spent time till sun rise.” 

“In the morning, a few people arrived at the camp and informed us that some individuals were trapped in a nearby house. When we went there, we found a boy named Ajmal sitting in a gap beneath a slab that had fallen on top of him. If we attempted to rescue him, the slab would fall on the person trying to help. We didn't know what to do. Ajmal was assured that the first rescuers to arrive would prioritise saving him before assisting others. When the rescuers arrived, they placed a tree log under the slab and pushed it upwards while Ajmal was pulled to safety. Now, he and his mother are in the hospital receiving treatment for their injuries. His father and paternal uncle are missing, and it is unknown whether they escaped or were caught in the water currents.” 

“We were holding on for our dear lives every moment till the rescuers arrived at Mundakkai. About four hundred people were there, along with babies and children. I had to give them something to eat. I got some rice that day from a nearby house. I boiled it, maintained the water consistency and gave everyone a glass each. That's what helped us sustain till the rescuers came. By 2 o’clock, biscuits and water had arrived. There is no point in blaming anyone. I know they might not have been able to save us. But when night fell, we began to fear for our survival, and hopelessness filled me. With this, I decided not to wait any longer. The healthy people started to walk. Since the army had instructed that healthy people should not wait for the helicopter but walk, we decided to head towards the bridge. The army said they would take those who couldn't walk. About three hundred people started walking. By the time the army arrived at two o'clock, we had already walked halfway,” Nooruddin said.

“Once it was morning, I started getting phone calls asking if I had seen their loved ones. Children and distant relatives called. A boy from Ernakulam called. When we enquired, we found out his family, including mother, father, and brothers, were all gone. The only consolation now is that aid is reaching the camps on time. Rescue operations are underway. Everyone is doing their best. Even today, bodies are being found. Out of the two bodies found today, one is a child and the other the mother. About fifty children have died. It is not yet known how many people are still missing. The last rites of the dead found in the landslide are waiting at the church. I have to go there,” Nooruddin concluded.