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The Hindu
23 minutes ago
- The Hindu
July 30: a cup of memories, a dash of hope
The name 'July 30' on Noufal Kalathingal's cafe signboard at Mepadi town is more than just a date. It echoes both pain and purpose for him. It is a symbol of his resilience in the face of unimaginable loss. It is a tribute to the loved ones he lost in the Wayanad landslide disaster. When nature ravaged Mundakkai and Chooralmala on the night of July 30, 2024, Mr. Noufal was thousands of miles away, working as a chef in Oman. Just minutes before the disaster, he had shared a tender WhatsApp video call with his wife Sajna and their three children. He never heard from them since. Mr. Noufal lost 11 members of his family: wife and three children, his parents, his brother, sister-in-law and their three children. The scene that awaited him in Wayanad on July 31 was one of unrecognizable devastation. 'I had some hope until I reached Wayanad. My parents' bodies were recovered and buried the day before. It was the familiar sparkle of an earring that confirmed the unbearable truth: my daughter,' Mr. Noufal's words broke. It took Mr. Noufal nearly three months to confirm the identities of his other family members, including his wife Sajna, through DNA testing. With a heavy heart, he revealed the grim reality: 'My wife's remains are scattered in two graves. The same fate befell my children and brother.' The devastating landslide had dismembered bodies beyond recognition, leading to piecemeal burials before DNA results later revealed the true identities. His wife's dream was for Mr. Noufal to return home and start a cafe, a plan he was actively working on. 'I was saving up to make her dream a reality,' he said. Though Sajna is not there to witness it, her presence lives on in every cup of coffee he serves. 'I named my cafe 'July 30' to ensure that the Mundakkai-Chooralmala tragedy is not forgotten, unlike the 2019 Puthumala disaster that is already slipping from memory,' he said. Shared sorrow The Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM) helped him set up the cafe in a rented building. He employs six workers who lost their livelihoods in the tragedy. More than coffee and snacks, the menu reflects the region's flavours: biryani, mandi, porotta and beef fry. 'This cafe is not about profits, it is about preserving memories and supporting those who lost their livelihood,' he said. Mr. Noufal's resilience is an inspiration to many survivors. Last month, he married Safna, 37. They are now preparing to move into a house donated by KMCC Muscat wing. Mr. Noufal's journey of healing and rebuilding enters a new chapter.
The Hindu
23 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Two arrested for abetment to suicide following temple banner row in Khairatabad
The Khairatabad police have arrested two men in connection with the suicide of a man following an altercation over a banner at the Gajjalamma Temple on July 27. The accused were identified as Nagishetty Vikesh, 37, a realtor from Begumpet and Rajdhar Katiya Dharam Raj alias Fathu, 37, a realtor from Gandhi Nagar, Hyderabad. According to police, the dispute began with a verbal confrontation between the deceased, Mukesh with Sunil, over the placement of a banner at the temple. The situation escalated when Mukesh was assaulted and threatened by Vikesh, Dharam Raj, Sunil, and others. Unable to cope with the humiliation and mental harassment, Mukesh allegedly ended his life later that night, in the early hours of Monday, July 28. The duo was arrested near Sangareddy and produced before a magistrate on July 29. They have since been remanded to judicial custody. Efforts are on to trace and arrest the remaining accused who are currently absconding.
The Hindu
23 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Dead fences and crumbling walls, Kerala's prisons vulnerable to more breaches
The escape of rape and murder convict Govindachamy from the Kannur Central Prison has exposed deep-rooted lapses in Kerala's prison security system, where outdated infrastructure and administrative inertia have long gone unaddressed. The electric fencing at the prison, meant to deter such breakouts, has not been functioning for nearly three years. This is not an isolated lapse. Except for the Viyyur Central Prison and the adjacent High Security Prison, all central prisons in the State suffer from similar vulnerabilities. Sources point to chronic underfunding and poor interdepartmental coordination as key reasons delaying much-needed security upgrades of prison facilities. While electric fencing has been installed around the central prisons, except the Thavanur Central Prison and the High Security Prison, several years ago, the absence of live power supply has rendered these systems ineffective. At the Poojappura Central Prison, the fencing has been inoperative for nearly two years. The issue stems from expired annual maintenance contracts (AMC) and persistent delays by implementing agencies, including the Public Works department, in preparing repair estimates. Even the High Security Prison stares at a similar situation, with its AMC having lapsed. Compounding the problem, the lack of periodic maintenance has also hampered the surveillance infrastructure within prisons, as many CCTV cameras lack technical support. Further exposing prisons to more potential jailbreaks, boundary walls in certain facilities are crumbling, forcing prison superintendents fund makeshift repairs using their own funds. These challenges are particularly acute in ageing institutions built during the British era. The situation has been exacerbated by Kerala's ongoing fiscal crisis. The government had allocated ₹20 crore in the last State Budget for prison upgrades, despite proposals for nearly ₹100 crore being submitted. Half of the allocated amount was later slashed due to budgetary constraints, further straining prison resources. The Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services has now pinned its hopes on the decisions taken at a recent meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that resolved to make electric fences fully operational in all major prisons. The prison authorities have also expedited the ongoing security audit of its correctional facilities. At present, the periodic assessment is complete in 39 prisons, with steps under way to conduct the exercise in the remaining 18. Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services Balram Kumar Upadhyay told The Hindu that a number of steps are being planned to enhance security measures. 'Electric fencing will be the top priority for all central prisons. In addition, we will soon install 340 more CCTV cameras across jails to strengthen the existing network of nearly 1,500 cameras,' he says. To improve night-time security, high-mast lighting has already been installed on five major prison complexes. 'We are looking into every aspect (of security vulnerabilities) after the incident. Security measures are being reassessed. We hope to implement the upgraded measures within a couple of months,' he says. Sources indicate that the Home department is also exploring new technologies, including motion-sensing surveillance systems. The possibility of partnering with start-ups to pilot motion sensors is also being explored to detect unauthorised movement and potential breaches.
