Tag Archives: Muslims of Wayanad

Natural calamity in Wayanad –Unparalleled service of SDPI volunteers

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Wayanad, KERALA :

SDPI workers ready to participate in rescue/ help operation.

In the early hours of July 30th, a massive landslide devastated the Mundkkai-Chooralmala areas in the southeast region of Wayanad district, Kerala. The natural calamity swept away two villages, leaving behind almost no structures and claiming numerous lives. The catastrophe quickly drew the attention of the outside world, prompting immediate rescue efforts.

Rescue volunteers from various religious organizations and political parties hurried to the scene to search for survivors and recover bodies. Estimates suggest the death toll has surpassed 300, with more than 200 people still missing. Among the first to arrive were the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) volunteers, reaching the disaster site even before military and government rescue teams could mobilize.

The rescue operations saw the involvement of multiple organizations, including Indian Relief Workers (IRW), Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS), Samastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation (SKSSF), Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Youth Congress, Welfare Party, and the Muslim League. These groups have been tirelessly working to find and rescue any remaining survivors.

SDPI volunteers played a crucial role in recovering bodies from challenging terrains, including marshy areas and rivers flowing kilometers away from the landslide site. They ventured deep into the forests to carry bodies to hospitals, often on their shoulders, demonstrating immense dedication and bravery.

Relief activities are ongoing with significant momentum. The focus now is on ensuring the dignified rehabilitation of the surviving victims. The tireless efforts of all volunteers, especially those from SDPI, have highlighted the importance of community solidarity and prompt action in the face of natural disasters. The collaborative spirit and commitment shown by these volunteers offer a beacon of hope amid the devastation, emphasizing the need for continuous support and rehabilitation for those affected by this tragic event.

source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim> Positive Story / by Muslim Mirror / August 06th, 2024

Kerala landslides: When humanity triumphs over religion, politics

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Wayanad, KERALA :

Saifudeen of Wayanad Jeepers Off Road Club in Kalpetta, who has been part of the rescue operation from day one, said volunteers of various organisations are working like a single unit.

Younis waits at the Meppadi health centre on Friday for news about his parents, who went missing in the twin landslides in Wayanad. Younis has lost 11 relatives in the disaster. He received the mortal remains of his sister and niece earlier. (Photo | E Gokul, EPS)

Chooralmala :

People outside the landslide-hit areas of Wayanad may be debating the effectiveness of the forecast and reasons for the disaster. But that’s not the case at ground zero. It demonstrates, yet again, that Keralites unite above politics and religion during hours of crisis.

Apart from the Army, Navy, NDRF, Coast Guard, Police, Fire and Rescue Services and civil service volunteers, many organisations like Youth Care, SYS, SKSSF, DYFI and Seva Bharati too have been at the forefront of search and rescue efforts. They have brought more than 1,000 volunteers from neighbouring districts, who are wading through mounds of slush in search of life. No one shows animosity or hostility based on faith or political ideology. In fact, the Army has appreciated the dedication of the volunteers.

“The coordination between the state agencies, the Army and volunteers is excellent and that has helped in the smooth conduct of rescue operations,” said Major General V T Mathew, who is heading the 509-strong Army team.

Saifudeen of Wayanad Jeepers Off Road Club in Kalpetta, who has been part of the rescue operation from day one, said volunteers of various organisations are working like a single unit.

“I was part of the team that recovered around eight bodies from Vellarmala. The shock of handling the bodies of children was terrible. I almost choked when we were having lunch. It haunted me like a nightmare and I struggled to sleep. When we see toys and cradles among the debris, we think of our children. There is no meaning for enmity and squabbling in hours of crisis,” he said. 

VIP visits troubling rescue teams

Abdul Hameed, of Tirur in Malappuram, who is part of a 35-member rescue team of SYS, said the experience in joining the rescue operations during the 2018 floods and Kavalappara landslide has been helpful for the team.

However, the visit of VIPs, who bring a large team of supporters along with them, is troubling the rescue teams. As the road is narrow and there is limited space for excavators to move around, the Army has been pleading to restrict the entry of vehicles to Chooralmala.

However, MPs and MLAs arrive with supporters and insist on going to the Bailey bridge and even Mundakkai. The police are having a tough time at the barricade to stop VIPs.

Meanwhile, former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi set an example as he avoided cavalcade and arrived in a police vehicle to visit the affected areas.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Kerala / by Manoj Viswanathan / August 03rd, 2024

Kerala Muslim organisation helps landslide survivor to fulfil his mother’s last wish

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Bhagvanpur (Vaishali District) BIHAR / Waynad, KERALA :

Ravi Rosan Kumar, hailing from Bihar lost his mother and three other family members in the catastrophic landslide.

Kerala Muslim Jamaath Wayanad president O K Ahmad Kutty Baqavi, SYS media coordinator S Sharafudheen, district president Basheer Sa’di and other members handing over the flight ticket to Bihar native Ravi Roshan Kumar

Meppadi :

Ravi Rosan Kumar, hailing from Bhagavanpur in the Vaishali district of Bihar, endured an unimaginable tragedy. Kumar had relocated along with his family to Wayanad, after he got a job at the tea factory in Harrison Malayalam Estate. But their lives were shattered in the catastrophic landslide that claimed over 300 lives and obliterated two villages in the district.

Kumar lost his beloved mother, Fulkumari Devi. Three of his family members are still missing.

Ravi’s mother had always dreamt of returning to their birthplace in Bhagavanpur, a wish that she could not fulfill. With no immediate relatives left and having lost all his savings in the tragedy, Ravi stared at a bleak future. However, he was determined to honor his mother’s wish by taking her ashes back to Bhagavanpur for immersion.

Ravi’s plight caught the attention of Santhwanam, a volunteer group under the Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS), a Muslim organization based in Kerala, who stepped in to provide crucial support.

Search operations by different volunteer groups being carried out at Punjirimattom village in Wayanad. (Photo | ENS)

Understanding the gravity of Ravi’s situation, they arranged a flight ticket and other necessary assistance for him to return to Bhagavanpur and fulfill his mother’s final wish by immersing her ashes in the river in their village.

Kerala Muslim Jamath Wayanad President O. K. Ahmad Kutty Baqavi, along with S. Sharafudheen, SYS district president Basheer Sa’di, General Secretary Latheef Kakkavayal, and other members including Santhwanam Emergency Team coordinators C. M. Noushad, Naseer Kottathara, Shameer Thomattuchal, Dr. Muhammad Irshad, and Fazlul Abid, saw off Ravi Rosan Kumar as he embarked on his journey to his native place.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Kerala / by Express News Service / August 04th, 2024

MA Mohammed Jamal, ‘beloved godfather of orphans’ passes away at 83

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KERALA:

MA Mohammed Jamal, the revered godfather to thousands of orphans and general secretary of Wayanad Muslim Orphanage (WMO) in Kerala’s Wayanad district, passed away on Thursday, 21 December.

Having dedicated his life to the orphanage since 1967, Jamal transformed the lives of numerous orphans.

Initially a member of the Indian Union Muslim League, he assumed leadership of the orphanage in 1987 following the passing of veteran Muslim leader Abdul Rahman Bafaqui Thangal.

Over 400 students, with WMO’s financial support, pursue higher studies nationwide after leaving the orphanage, and many expressed their grief on social media following the death of “Jamaluppa,” the name they used to call him.

Jamal, also a Kerala state committee member of the Indian Union Muslim League, was 83.

His demise leaves a significant void at the helm of the 19 institutes providing religious and moral education to approximately 9000 students in Wayanad.

In recognition of his philanthropic endeavors, Jamal received prestigious awards, including the Kerala Mappila Kala Academy’s first Sharifa Fatima Award in 2006, the Indira Gandhi Sadbhavana Award for Best Education Worker in 2008, the KSTU’s first Shihab Thangal Award for Best Social Worker in 2011, and the Quaid-E-Millath Foundation’s Quaid-E-Millath Award.

source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoob Media / Home> India / by Maktoob Staff / December 21st, 2023