PANAJI
Riza Noronha (19) from Saligao studying in National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Kannur, Kerala, who came to Goa last weekend, reached Kannur again on August 14, just a day before
train service to the region was halted.
Riza, who stays in a hostel in Kannur, was in Goa for a long weekend to try and take advantage of the Independence Day holiday. She said some of her friends have still not been able to get back to college. Also, students who wanted to get back home to their families panicked after transportation was cut off.
“Many trains going to the south of Kerala were stopped as the routes led directly into the flood areas. So some of my friends who tried to get back to their families were sent back. They were panicking. Those of us who lived in other places like Goa and Bombay offered to bring them home with us, but they didn’t want to since this would take them even further away from their families who were in the affected areas in the South,” said Riza.
Riza’s college, which was closed on August 16 and for half a day on August 17 has started donation drives. “Even though classes have resumed, we are given time to plan donation drives and think of sending supplies to those affected. We try to think of things that people don’t usually think of. For example, everyone in the girls hostel donated sanitary pads,” she said.
“We went down to the local stores and bought buckets, mugs and chappals and then sent it to the Collector’s Office in Kannur from where they are sent to those in need,” she explained.
Riza also said that Amazon’s ready-made packs of supplies have been really helpful. These packs have already been put together by Amazon.
Anyone who wants to help can add them to the cart on their accounts and the packs will be delivered directly to the affected areas.
Log in to your Amazon account, choose which NGO you want to send the package to, add to your cart, go to check-out, choose the gift registry address. Once payment is made, the package will be sent to the NGO’s address (gift registry address.)
