Cochin University of Science and Technology, which was turned into a relief camp and housed more than 4,000 people as rains battered Kerala, announced that it would grace marks to all the students who took part in the relief work.
Vice Chancellor J. Letha told The Hindu that a special function, honouring all the student volunteers who took part in relief work, along with several professors and officials who worked tirelessly to help those affected by the rains, would be held in the first week of September. Nearly 130 students worked at the camp, day in and day out, along with teachers, university officials, IT professionals and residents of areas near the college.
Thousands of people from the district, such as North Paravur, Varappuzha, Koonammavu, Kalamassery, and Aluva, were moved to the 10 relief camps opened inside the university’s campus. The Departments of Engineering, Legal Studies, Management Studies, Ship Technology, and Instrumentation and Statistics were converted into relief camps.
According to The Quint, there was enough rations and supplies inside the camp, but they also ensured those required urgent medical support were administered help. They also kept everyone’s spirits up by singing and playing with the children, in a bid to take their minds of the trauma they had witnessed in the floods.
Kerala witnessed the worst floods in a century with over 350 being killed since the monsoons began on May 29. The armed forces had to be pressed into action immediately to ensure those isolated or stranded were rescued.
Over 10 lakh people have been displaced and state government has pegged monetary losses at over Rs 19,000 crore.