KOCHI: A video of fishermen undertaking a risky rescue of around 30 children stuck in a marooned orphanage at Chengannur in Kerala during the floods has gone viral.The rescue undertaken by Johny Chekkitta , an upcoming political leader from the coastal belt, and his team of fishermen called "Coastal Warriors", was uploaded by Johny after reaching back at Poonthura, the coastal village in Thiruvananthapuram where the fishermen live. In two days, the video was viewed by 1.5 million persons, shared 48,000 times, and 10,000 had congratulated the team through comments.Attempts to air lift the children out of the orphanage had failed and the attempts of the fishermen team to rescue them were also not successful on the first day. When the water receded a bit on the second day, the fishermen team resolved to rescue the children at any cost as Shabu, a policeman of Chengannur station who was accompanying the team, told them that it would be too late if a rescue is not successful on that day.On the way to rescue to the children, the team had to stop and rescue several others and then return to drop them off to safety as they could not ignore the pleas of starved victims crying for help.The orphanage was located in a bylane that only a person with local knowledge could navigate. Jomon, a bus conductor who lives in the area, travelled with the team to guide them to the orphanage in the bylane through the strong currents.While returning after rescuing 27 children and the warden, the fishermen team were greeted by local residents with their hands cupped in prayer, Johny said. Though the team had rescued over 600 marooned victims by then, saving the children was the most satisfying moment of all.Johny is currently Thiruvannathapuram district president of PC Thomas-led Kerala Congress, which is an ally of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The video can be watched on YouTube here or on Johny Chekkitta’s Facebook profile.

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