The water began to gush over Cheruthoni bridge when the shutters of Idukki dam were unlatched following a heavy rain last night. Nearby tall buildings have been already occupied by media and other photographers to capture unusual sight of water out-bursting over the Cheruthoni bridge.
National Disaster Response force was rushing to the hospital with a sick boy named Suraj (also known as Thakkudu) over the Cheruthoni bridge ahead of the bursting water which later engulfed the bridge completely. This heart breaking sight was captured by the media and reported with great importance, as soon as Thakkudu became an issue of dialogue over social media. This made him to attain a copious attention and wide recognition to spread the magnitude of the monstrous flood hit on the state.
Thakkudu is the beloved son of Vijayaraj and Manju of Karaikad Puthenveedu in Cheruthoni Idukki colony. Vijayaraj was returning home after watching the shutter opening of Idukki dam with his friends, was astonished with news of his three year old son suffering from severe fever and illness. He stepped out of the house ignoring the heavy down pour having a sole aim to get his son to the hospital whatever it takes. On reaching near the bridge the Police officials informed that there is no way that they could get into the other side. However on understanding the bad condition of the child, the officials informed the Circle Inspector in- charge and under his guidance the boy was taken to the other side expeditiously with the accompany of National Disaster Response Force on hotfoot. On looking back from the other side after boarding an auto, the bridge was seen to be under the bursting water, the sight is still terrifying, recalls Vijayaraj. He still remembers the Police officer who lent him money from his own pocket in that situation when he had not even a single penny to spare. Cheruthoni bridge was completely covered with water by the time they returned with Thakkudu from the district hospital causality. Many of the nearby roads were also blocked due to the deluge, water logging and landslides. Then they had to travel kilometres on a relative’s bike via Karimpan bridge to reach home.
Whenever Vijayaraj sees smile on his son’s face, it reminds him of the people who have helped his son to get immediate medical care; wanting to meet the members of the Response Force and the policeman once again. They live with Thankaraj and
Yeshamma, Vijayaraj’s parents now. Thakkudu welcomes those who come to see him with his innocent playful smile even if he doesn’t know the part that he played to let the world know about the intensity of the flood in Idukki. He is now a LKG student of the Idukki New Man School.
