Friends Gift New Van to Driver After Flash Flood Destruction in Idukki
The video of a van completely destroyed after being swept away in a flash flood last week deeply saddened many. The vehicle, a Traveller van, belonged to B. Rejimon from Koottar, Kalanthara, and was registered in his wife Abhijeetha’s name. Faced with a significant crisis after losing his livelihood, Rejimon has now received overwhelming support from a group of friends.
In a heartwarming gesture, his friends have gifted Rejimon a brand-new van. Anjitha and Subin, software engineers hailing from Kannur, along with another friend who chose to remain anonymous, collectively contributed 14.5 lakh rupees to purchase the new Traveller.
The sight of the original ‘Vinayaka’ van being swept away in Idukki’s unexpected floods had captured national attention. While the old Vinayaka had a seating capacity of 17, its replacement boasts 19 seats, offering an upgrade to Rejimon’s business.
The keys to the new vehicle were handed over to Rejimon today near the Koottar bridge, the very location where his previous van was tragically lost. As the friends who purchased the vehicle were unable to be present, they entrusted other local friends to carry out the handover ceremony.
Rejimon shared that his acquaintance with these benevolent friends began through his profession as a driver, and their bond steadily grew over time. The old van, when finally retrieved, was completely demolished. It had been stuck among river stones and required a tractor’s assistance to be pulled ashore. Though registered under Rejimon’s wife, the van was the primary source of income for its drivers, Santhosh and Rajakrishnan.
The incident occurred on Saturday morning, when the van, which had been parked on Friday evening after a trip to a temple in Tamil Nadu, was caught in the torrential currents. Purchased for 10.5 lakh rupees, the vehicle had seen an additional 5.5 lakh rupees invested in modifications and customisations. Furthermore, Rejimon still had two and a half years remaining on a vehicle loan, with monthly installments of 22,250 rupees, adding to the financial strain caused by the loss. This gift from his friends brings immense relief and a renewed hope for Rejimon and his family.