Kerala Floods: Relief camp hosts couple's wedding reception

A couple from Kerala who were recently married held their wedding reception in a flood relief camp, amid the state's battles with inundation. 

According to reports, the couple got married during the floods which had gripped the state. Initially, the reception was scheduled to be held in Meppadi in Wayanad district but the plan had to be called off after the massive devastation caused by the floods in the state. 

However, a secondary plan was considered when the couple had the reception in a flood relief camp on August 18, with the couple receiving blessings and even gifts despite the situation. Rabiya, the bride, had earlier faced the floods destroying their home in Choormala with all their belongings being washed away. Even the ornaments were lost during this course. 

However, they were not let down as the District Administration and the Parent-Teacher Association of a school which had been turned into a flood relief camp hosted the reception of Rabiya and Shafi, the groom. Local legislator CK Saseendran and District Collector AR Ajayakumar were brought in as the chief guests. 

The funds were gathered by a collective effort of the guests and the PTA (Parents-Teachers Association) to purchase five sovereigns of gold as a gift. The event brought hope and praise amid the dire situations that has engulfed the state because of the Kerala floods. 

The Kerala floods have claimed over 67 lives and people are displaced across the state. Following the situation, authorities have set up flood relief camps across the state. Because of devastating situation because of the Kerala floods, Wayanad parliamentarian Rahul Gandhi has written to Shaktikanta Das, the RBI governor, seeking an extension on the time period for repayment of crop loans of farmers in the state to 31 December 2019, in the wake of the disastrous effects of the heavy downpour for the second consecutive year. 

He also urged people to give biscuits, sugar, green gram, dal, black gram, coconut oil, coconuts, vegetables, curry powders, bread and baby food to the affected people. Gandhi appealed to donors to send the material to collection centers in Malappuram district, which he listed.