Kerala floods: They refuse to bow down to tragedies

Malappuram: Remember watching the visuals of a young man crowching in muddy waters and positioning his back as a step for a woman to board a boat at Muthalamadu near Vengara during the recent floods?

K.P. Jaisal, he young man who went beyond the ordinary call of a rescue worker, was only reflecting the spirit the Malappuram District Trauma Care (MDTC) has instilled in its 1200 trained volunteers and over 30,000 members.

MDTC,  a non-government organisation, is a group of well-trained volunteers who came together 13 years ago unmindful of other organisational and religious affiliations. They play an instrumental role in all kinds of rescue and response operations during distress in the district over the years working closely with the police, fire and rescue and health departments.  

“We have created a wide network of experienced rescue volunteers who can reach every nook and cranny of the district within five minutes whenever an accident or a disaster takes place," says K.P. Pratheesh, MDTC general secretary.

The MDTC has 30-member rescue unit under each of the 34 Police stations in the district who will respond to accidents and calamities including natural disasters.

"The volunteers are given adequate training by the police, fire and rescue officials and medical experts to handle emergency situations.

It was MDTC's presence in the district which helped reduce the death toll in the district during the flood and landslides," Mr Pratheesh says.

The MDTC has also created a specialised wing named Natural Disaster Response Force which is a dedicated and well-trained force in the line of National Disaster Response Force. The group works with no financial support from the government or other organisations and draws fund from volunteers. "Rather than money, we need equipment to respond to emergencies," he said.