Now Reading: Kerala grants state honours, aid to flood hero Rajesh R
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Kerala grants state honours, aid to flood hero Rajesh R
Kerala on Wednesday accorded state honours to Rajesh R, a swimming and disaster rescue instructor who drowned while rescuing a stranded farmer during floods in Kannur district. Chief minister V D Satheesan…
The Story in Brief
Kerala on Wednesday accorded state honours to Rajesh R, a swimming and disaster rescue instructor who drowned while rescuing a stranded farmer during floods in Kannur district. Chief minister V D Satheesan visited his family and announced the government would fund the completion of Rajesh’s under-construction house.
The Kerala High Court paid tribute on Thursday, with Justice Devan Ramachandran calling him 'a true hero' whose sacrifice was 'supreme and unparalleled'. Rajesh handed his life jacket to farmer S Benny, 61, before being swept away by the swollen river on August 1. His body was recovered three days later.
The Indian Opinion
Rajesh R’s story is one of selfless courage, but it also shows how disaster response in India still leans heavily on volunteers without proper gear or life insurance. The narratives around 'heroic sacrifice' can sanitise the systemic gaps that forced a man to give away his own life jacket. The test is whether Kerala’s honour translates into better equipment and training for every volunteer who steps forward.
Sources (2): hindustantimes.com, livelaw.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
