Thiruvananthapuram: When the waters of the Kariangode River in Kerala began rising on August 1, 2026, 36-year-old R Rajesh was among those who responded to the rescue effort.
A swimming and rescue instructor from Kalliyoor in Thiruvananthapuram district, Rajesh had volunteered during the 2018 Kerala floods and the 2024 Wayanad landslides. He lost his life while attempting a rescue in Kannur district during the recent flood, which has submerged parts of northern Kerala.
Rajesh was in Cherupuzha in Kannur with fellow rescuers and river-rafting instructors when they received information about a farmer stranded by the surging waters.
61-year-old Benny had been stranded on an isolated stretch of land after the Kariangode River overflowed. He was clinging to a coconut tree when Rajesh and his fellow rescuers, Shibin and Jithin, arrived at the scene. The rescuers decided to cross through the surging waters to get to Benny. But on their way back, the strong current made the journey even more difficult.
According to the survivor’s account, Rajesh saw Benny struggling in the water and removed his own life jacket and gave it to him. Meanwhile, the other rescuers held on to a safety rope to make their way to the riverbank.
The rescuers eventually reached the riverbank, but Rajesh, who was no longer wearing a life jacket, lost his grip on the rope and was swept away by the currents. Benny survived the ordeal, but Rajesh was swept away by the currents and drowned. A volunteer search party searched the river for three days before recovering his body downstream on August 4, 2026.
For those who knew him, Rajesh's commitment to rescue work was well known. A certified swimming and rappelling instructor, he was involved in adventure sports and taught trekking and trained NCC cadets, students, nd mem students,aventure clubs in trekking, rappelling, another activitiesg. Colleagues and friends described him as a sportsperson who had developed a strong passion for rescue operations.
Rajesh volunteered during the 2018 Kerala floods, one of the state's worst natural disasters in recent decades. Six years later, he offered his services once again during the Wayanad landslides in 2024. He continued his rescue work during the floods in Kannur this year.
His long history of volunteering has made his death all the more painful for his family, who have lost a husband, father and breadwinner.
“He lost his life after giving his life jacket to save another person,” his friend Omar Farook told The New Indian Express, adding that Rajesh was a sportsperson who had earned the trust of his peers. While his family struggled to come to terms with his death, they also had to confront the financial difficulties he left behind.
Rajesh is survived by his wife, Shafiya, their two sons, Abhishek and Arshan, and his parents. The family now faces an uncertain future following his death. His 2 children, studying in Classes 9 and 8 respectively, are now coping with the sudden loss of their father. At his funeral, residents of the locality gathered to pay their respects to the man who had devoted his life to helping others. Political leaders, government officials, and hundreds of others attended the last rites of Rajesh, who was cremated with state honours.
His family’s financial struggles soon became the focus of attention.
According to Shafiya, Rajesh had hoped to settle his family’s debts and complete their house. The construction remained unfinished when he lost his life.
The Kerala government has decided to complete the unfinished house, as a mark of respect for Rajesh and his services. Kerala Cabinet decides to complete rescuer’s home, accord state honours. The Kerala Cabinet resolved to accord state honours to Rajesh and complete his home as a gesture of appreciation for his services. The announcement came as the government unveiled a larger relief package for flood-hit Kerala, including an ex-gratia payment of Rs 8 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives in the disaster, along with compensation for losses and other flood-related costs. However, for Shafiya, the completion of the house has a special significance.
Speaking to Manorama Online, Shafiya said her husband had always wanted to repay the family's loans and complete the house.
The government's decision will allow the family to complete the home Rajesh had hoped to finish. After visiting his family, former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged the government to provide employment to Shafiya and to support the education of the two young children.
Rajesh's death has also highlighted the risks faced by volunteers who take part in rescue operations during floods. Volunteers often enter dangerous floodwaters with limited safety equipment to help people who are stranded. Rajesh's final rescue, however, is remembered for one particular decision: giving up his life jacket to save a stranger.
He had reached Benny. He had helped him to safety. But when the farmer found himself in perilous waters again, Rajesh took off his life jacket and gave it to him. The farmer survived; Rajesh drowned.
In the days following his death, Kerala has seen an outpouring of grief for the man who has laid down his life for the state. From the 2018 floods to the 2024 landslides and the recent rescue mission in Kariangode, Rajesh had always volunteered his services when Kerala needed him the most. The house in Kalliyoor is another reminder of his sacrifice, a home he wanted to finish for his family but never got the chance to. The Kerala government will finish it, but for Shafiya and the children, the house will also remain a reminder of the man they lost while he was trying to save someone else.
References:
- https://www.onmanorama.com
- https://www.newindianexpress.com
- https://indianexpress.com
- https://ianslive.in
- https://theprint.in