more-in For the people of Anakkayam, near Chelavoor in the city, Elottparambu Jayaprakashan is their loving ‘Jayettan’. There is no one in the locality who has not experienced the benevolence of this boatman at least once. He has always been at the forefront of all activities in the region as a helping hand. But now, he has gained the aura of a hero, having taken more than 200 people to safety during the floods that ravaged the small hamlet on the banks of Poonoor river. Hundreds of people, irrespective of their faith, politics or age gathered at a local club on Sunday to honour Jayettan in the presence of M.K. Raghavan, MP, and corporation councillors P.K. Shalini and Sharanya. “We barely got three hours to pack things and get houses vacated after the flood warning was issued,” said Ms. Shalini, recalling how the boatman had rescued several people from half or fully submerged houses. “When I saw Jayan on the second day of the flood, his feet were swollen and he could not walk, as he was in water for more than 24 hours,” she said, adding that it was his timely effort that ensured that there were no casualties in the region. Ms. Sharanya pointed out that the team led by Mr. Jayaprakashan was working even at midnight, in turbulent waters, to rescue people who had sought refuge on top of their houses. “We experienced the invisible hand of god through him,” she added. However, this is not the first time that the boatman and his country boat have come to the rescue of Anakkayam residents. The area is prone to floods every year and the most devastating of them in the past was in 2007, when Mr. Jayaprakashan was on the field for rescue. His team members Shaji Elottuparambu, Anil Karikkiriyil, Rajish Elottuparambu, Sunilkumar Mundayottuchalil, Isahaq Meledathakandi, Gireeshan A.M., Ratheesh Karikkiri and Abhinand Elottuparambu were also honoured on the occasion.

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