HUBBALLI: Many students from Kerala, studying in a local nursing college here, are relieved after contacting their parents over phone.After floods ravaged Kerala, students had little or no information about their parents and could not contact them due to a network problem, and mobiles running out of charge. They have finally established contact and are relieved to know that despite heavy damages and lost homes, they are alive and well.More than 60 students, pursuing B.Sc Nursing at KLE Institute of Nursing Science, have not headed home for Onam , as they do every year. Instead, they will have low-key celebrations in their hostel, with some decorations and a few dishes likes aviyal, pachadi and payasam.Usually, cultural programmes would mark Onam celebrations.Anju Kurakose, a B.Sc student from Pathanamthitta , told TOI, “I visited Kerala during my ten-day vacation last month. When I heard about the floods, I tried to call my family but couldn’t talk to them due to network problems. I managed to contact them just a day back, and luckily, my family is safe.”Akhila S, a resident of Wayanad, Chinnu Mathewkutty, from Pathanamthitta, and others said that they was tremendous tension when they heard about the floods.“We tried our best to contact our families, but couldn’t. Many of our houses were submerged and devastated in floods. We had frantically tried to contact our family members, but in vain. Our parents called back after the flood subsided two days ago. We are now happy that our families are safe,” they said.But Parvathi Baiju, a resident of Chengannur , who lost her house in the floods, said, “My house was completely under water. My family of six members had a very tough time surviving and finally, they were rescued and shifted to a relief camp. Today, I spoke to my parents after they came home from the relief camp. They are safe but we have lost all our household items and will have to rebuild our house.”Ashita R, of Tiruvella, also had a horrific story to tell as her family was also stuck in the floodwaters which submerged their house. They were rescued and shifted to a relief camp.“All four members of my family are safe and were in a relief camp for five days. They have returned home,” she said.

Stay updated with all the Latest Hubli headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.