The Kerala floods are some of the most disastrous and destructive events that have happened in India. The terror and fear of many individuals across the state have reached the eyes of many who have been desperate to help those in need.
Many have put their entire livelihoods into helping those affected during these unfortunate events, making sure that every individual is safe and protected.
But as the currents come to a pause, and the waters reach a standstill, the tragedy is yet to be over, as the citizens of Kalliyoor mourn the death of a beloved rescuer, who lost his life-saving another. So, who is this selfless hero who helped many during these floods?
R Rajesh
37-year-old R Rajesh was a simple man with a woman by the name of Lakshmi as his wife, and his two sons, Arshan and Abhishek. Working as a swimming instructor and rappelling trainer, Rajesh devoted his life to helping those who had been affected by the Kerala floods.
It started all the way back in 2018 with the first major disaster caused by the floods, and he has helped out many individuals across the state, saving around 114 lives. In 2024, he was also an extremely helpful volunteer and rescuer who went to Wayanad due to the landslide tragedy that occurred that year.
He was also passionate about adventure sports and had been working at a river rafting unit in Kannur along the Tejasvi River. He also ran an adventure centre called ADMS, but that was merely a small part of a bigger narrative of wanting to support and help various charities, with the centre being a part of said initiative.
He would go on to be a reliable and extremely brave hero who had the citizens' best interests at heart, either through volunteer work or through heroic acts that could put his life at risk. A total of 15 years had gone into volunteering and saving people during the trying times.
Despite the risk to his life, he still kept up his work and helped out many individuals across the state during the floods, earning his name as a truly selfless hero.
It would not last, however, as the tragedy of 2026 struck, and the state lost the man who risked his life for another in a brave act of genuine humility.
The tragedy
On August 1st, the Tejasvi River in Kannur had notably swelled in volume, which caused a disastrous flood to breach the area surrounding it.
As the rains filled up the area, the water levels began to rise at an alarming rate, with there being not enough time for emergency responders to step in. Rajesh had taken it upon himself to help out, using his skills to his advantage as he swam across the river using strong ropes to bring the stranded villagers on the other side to safety.
Doing so, he had already saved a dozen people from harm and safely carried them over to the other side. However, he then heard the cry of an individual nearby and found a 61-year-old man who was stranded on a low-lying island, crying out for help.
Upon hearing the man’s pleas, he immediately dove in once again with ropes, swimming over to the man on the island. Once he reached the man, he gave him his life jacket as well, so that the man could stay afloat and move safely towards the other side.
As the two men made their way across the river, a sudden gush of water that was most likely caused by a nearby landslide had travelled through the columns of the river. Due to the sudden force of the water, it ended up pulling Rajesh as well towards the current and swept him away.
The current had soon faded, but Rajesh was nowhere to be found. A search was established to find his body, which took another three days before the party found him.
His body was discovered around noon on Tuesday, 4th August,t after the water slowly began to recede, as the island he was on was heavily submerged, and only once the water had receded was the party able to reach him.
His body was then brought to his hometown, Kalliyoor in Thiruvananthapuram, for his funeral, and the entire state mourned his death as they had lost a man who risked his life to save another.
At the time of his funeral, many political leaders paid massive amounts of homage to Rajesh and his heroic and honourable actions in saving many individuals across the state.
Dealing with the immense loss and grief, Lakshmi was left to mourn her husband’s death and was left to cope with all the loans they had taken to build their home, not having enough to be able to repay those loans due to being a housewife. The family had hoped that the government would support them in their time of need.
Across the state, many around him and the various individuals that knew him praised his courage and bravery, and his selfless actions towards the people. The true tragedy being that if it were anyone else that would’ve been swept away; Rajesh would’ve saved them. But truly no one was as skilled as him to have saved him when he needed it most.
Rajesh was a truly brave soul who knew he was risking his life for another, yet took that chance anyway. A person with such bravery is sure to be regarded as a genuinely remarkable citizen with a heart of pure gold.
India has faced many disasters and tragedies almost everywhere in the country. Those who choose to help anyone in need and keep everyone safe are truly the bravest souls. They prove that in a world of destruction and terror, the ones who stand by and give their heart and soul to helping others out can make the world a better place.
Rajesh may have passed on, but his legacy will never falter. Many around the state would’ve surely been inspired by him, nd would walk in his footsteps to do just what he did for the ones in need.
References:
- https://www.onmanorama.com
- https://indianexpress.com
- https://economictimes.indiatimes.com
- https://www.wionews.com