Karnataka is currently going through one of the worst ever flood-hit situations with more than 40 people losing their lives and 14 have gone missing since flood first hit the state on August 1. According to reports, more than 12 districts in the coastal and northwest parts of Karnataka have been affected forcing evacuation of around 1,24, 291 people from the flood-hit region.
Praiseworthy Gesture By Nagendra & Team
In this situation of crisis, everyone is doing their bit. The month of Shravan is a major wedding season in the state. And for the caterers, it is a big season of raking in a lot of moolah. But Nagendra, a caterer from Bengaluru has decided to put business aside and help the people trapped in the flood. Along with a few donors and volunteers, the team of Nagendra is now preparing Jowar and Wheat rotis to be sent to North Karnataka’s flood-hit areas.
He has turned his small under-construction shed at Ittamadu into a temporary kitchen to prepare rotis from August 10. The deliveries are expected to continue for the next 15 days. The team will shift to JP Nagar soon where they have been offered a bigger space.
Volunteers Pooled In Enough Money To Make 50,000 Rotis
The decision was prompted when during a discussion Pradeepa, an RJ and his friends suddenly realized that the relief centers for the flood-hit people served only rice and sambar. Pradeepa says, “People in North Karnataka are not used to eating rice and sambar three times a day. Their staple food is jowar roti and vegetable curry. That’s when we realized we could chip in with the relief efforts and I spoke to Nagendra. We pooled in money and bought enough groceries to make 50,000 rotis.’’
That is why along with rotis, the volunteers are also sending pickles, thokku, and chutney powder.
Pradeepa added, “We have spoken to the Lorry Owners Association president Shanmugappa and they are helping us transport the food items to those places. When Chennai faced a similar situation some years ago, we had sent rice, blankets and other essentials by lorries. Every night, the trucks will leave from Rajarajeshwari Nagar and reach the destination the next morning. We intend to do this for at least 15 days. For now, we are sending food to a college near Athani in Belagavi district where there are 15,000 people, who were evacuated from their villages, have been housed.”
