Kozhikode: Good Samaritans of the city have risen to the occasion once again, this time for those left homeless in Odisha by Cyclone Fani, one of the most severe storms to hit the region in recent years.
Rise Up Forum, formed during the century's second-worst deluge that devastated the state last year, started collecting relief materials on the premises of the District Tourism Promotion Council at Mananchira here.
The week-long collection drive started on May 8 will remain open until May 15. It has already sent the first set of 200 relief packets. They are collecting tarpaulin sheets, sleeping mats, bedsheets, sanitary napkins, candles, matchboxes, insect repellents, cleaning materials and food items like biscuits and rusks.
"The birth of forum was spontaneous. Initially, it was just a WhatsApp group started to collect relief materials and pass important messages during the Kerala floods.
Now it has emerged as a charity with more than 200 volunteers," said P.K. Jinsil, its founder chairperson.
"We understood the need of unity to overcome such tragedies," added T. Rajnas, a member.
More than a week after landfall of the killer storm, lakhs of survivors continue to live in squalid conditions without power supply and food.
