- For three days, they did not have any food or water.
But just two weeks ago, around 1,200 people, including a pregnant woman and new-born baby, were stranded in the school for nearly three days without food and water.
The three-storey building located at the far end of a narrow road choked with compound walls and houses on either side, made rescue almost impossible.
"It was a nightmare. At one point, we thought we will never come out alive," says Jimesh P. C, who was among those who got stuck in the school.
A bank employee, Jimesh said many families moved in to the school camp on August 15 when water started rising in their neighbourhood.
"We had carried enough food to last only for a day as we were expecting to move out soon. By evening water level rose by two feet. And by 16th morning the situation became scary when we saw the ground floor was submerged and water was reaching up to the first floor of the school."
Jimesh put a Facebook post seeking help, and families consoled themselves that rescue teams will reach sooner or later.
But the real ordeal began on August 17.
"Nobody came. By morning, there was utter panic. Our food stock was over. People were falling sick. Two men had a spasm. Someone jumped out from the top floor out of anxiety. I also started panicking as dozens of calls I made did not yield any result. The standard answer I got was boats cannot reach the spot. Hope started fading," said Jimesh relieving the horror.
Another big challenge was to arrange toilet facilities for such a huge group of stranded people. "The toilets were on the ground floor and it was inaccessible. We had to set up temporary toilets using plastic mats. It was all about survival till help could reach us."
Jimesh stood his ground and continued to dial every possible number he could think of.
After 72 hours of being stranded in the school, he finally he established contact with a rescue coordinator, Gopinath on August 17.
"He was upfront and told me rescue was impossible that night, but promised to evacuate every single one of us the next day. I trusted him. But people were getting agitated in the camp, and their anger was directed at me. I even broke down more than once."
Meanwhile on the ground, Sub-inspector of Varappuzha, Sony Mathai was trying to coordinate rescue.
"The place was not under my jurisdiction. But I was trying my best to contact rescue teams and fishermen who could reach the spot. Access was difficult and big boats could not reach the place. I managed to divert a few smaller ones with a team of ten people."
Efforts were being made from all sides as Gopinath, who had reached the spot along with another rescue coordinator Jomon, was in touch with Navy and government entities.
"Both of us promised one thing. Irrespective of what might come, we will be last ones to leave the school," Gopi wrote on Facebook, recollecting the heroic efforts made by everyone to save 1000 people.
On the 18th, fishing boats fitted with Yamaha engines reached the school and started evacuating people. By evening everyone except 300 people were safely evacuated and moved to relief camps.
"Next day, when we again reached the place, water had started receding to the extent that we could see buses and trucks coming out of the water. But there was another problem. Big boats wont ply in that water. I did not want them to think that we deserted them. Hence I walked and swam through the water to reach the school. They were happy to see a familiar face," Gopinath told Khaleej Times.
On the same day, on 19th Jimesh published another hand-written note on Facebook calling for help.
"I cannot tell you in words my relief when I saw the small boats approaching the school. Many of us walked through waist-high water to safety. I cannot thank everyone enough who put their life at risk for our sake," said Jimesh whose wife and one-year old daughter was also stuck in the school.
"I still get calls from people asking whether I am safe. Such was the kind of support we received from random strangers on social media. That unity and concern made all the difference," he concluded.
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