Appeal after India family devastated by flooding
AWELSH woman who helped a poor Indian 14-year-old become one of Kerala’s first women civil engineers has launched an appeal after she and her family lost everything in devastating floods which have hit the Kerala region.
Kerala has been battered by torrential downpours since August 8, with floods and landslides killing at least 250 people. About 800,000 people are now living in 4,000 relief camps.
Greeshma Vinod, her husband Uuni and their newborn baby were among those rescued by boat from the flood waters, but are in an emergency shelter with her parents after their house, built with funds raised by Sue Tasher from Sully, was deluged by water and their possessions swept away.
“They have lost everything and we need to help them,” said Sue, who runs The Pickled Pepper in Penarth and Cook Kerala Tours, which runs culinary tours to India.
She was on holiday in India 12 years ago with her husband Peter when she saw the then 14-year-old Greeshma the daughter of a local fisherman, sitting outside the family’s hut.
Sue befriended the young teenager going on to help her family and pay for her education and university degree with fund raising curry nights at the All Saints Church in Penarth.
Greeshma is the same age as Sue’s daughter Holly, but the Pickled Pepper owner says she was struck by how different their lives were.
Aged 14, Greeshma expected to leave school soon and become a servant or work in the rice paddies with her mother. With help from Sue and Peter her life was radically transformed. But now that future is threatened by losing everything in the floods, just three weeks after Greeshma gave birth to her first child.
The couple, both engineers, and their little boy, who has not yet been named, are now, like many others, also at risk of infection from water borne disease, said Sue.
“They were rescued from her parents house where they were living after having the baby and are now all sleeping on a church floor,” said Sue.
Eventually, Sue got a message through.
“Greeshma managed to send me a message on her mobile asking us to please help. They are destitute. Everything is gone,” said Sue, who is due to go to Kerala to lead a culinary and yoga tour with her company, Cook Kerala Tours , in early September.
Sue estimates the family need £5,000 to rebuild and to replace their belongings.
“I am extremely worried for them and everyone affected by the floods. For Greeshma’s family they are back to square one, “said Sue. “The part I am due to take a tour to has not been affected and those on it want to go so we are going ahead and will take things for them.”
■ Donations can be made at www. justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ Suzanne-Tasher-2