Kerala floods: UAE-based students, teachers struggle to make it back to school on time

Femina Muhamed Shemin, a physics teacher at Our Own English High School, Sharjah, returned home to Sharjah on Tuesday, August 28

With only a few days left for schools to re-open after the summer holidays in the UAE, parents, teachers, and students who went to Kerala over the vacations are struggling to find their way 'back to school'.

The ones who have made it back to the UAE are relieved to be back, as they had to travel to airports in neighbouring districts via road and train to get to their destination. The Kerala floods, which resulted in nearly 400 deaths in the state, caused intense damage to their homes and material property to several students, teachers, and parents.

Manoj Haridas, a building contractor, living in Ajman spoke to Khaleej Times from Ernakulam, Kerala. Haridas's three children, two boys and a girl, study at DPS Ajman, and his home in Aluva has been destroyed in the floods. "One side of a wall in my home has caved in, and some family members, including my parents and my sister, live in this house. I cannot leave it in this state, where will they live," he said.

Hari is planning on extending his vacations and sending his children back to the UAE with their mother so that they can get back on time. "Our return was scheduled on August 27 from Kochi Aiport. It was moved to Trivandrum; however, now I will re-schedule the tickets on September 1 so that the kids can get to school on time. But I am not sure if we can find air tickets easily," he added.

Femina Muhamed Shemin, a physics teacher at Our Own English High School, Sharjah, returned home to Sharjah on Tuesday, August 28. She said, "Luckily, I made it back yesterday," she said. Shemin's house is in Mambra near Chalakudy in Thrissur district. Since she could not fly out from Kochi Airport, she had to drive to Kozhikode to catch a flight back. "I went to Kerala on August 13 to meet my ailing father. I was supposed to return on August 20, but the flights kept changing dates," she added.

Shemim's house is near the bank of the Chalakudy river and has seen considerable damage in the floods. "Almost three-fourth of the house was under water for three full days. The water-levels began receeding on the fourth day. We completed the registration for the house in October 2017. We haven't even completed housewarming," she explained.

Compared to the other houses, Shemim's home did not suffer too much damage. "There was small damage to the furniture, and luckily my parents are safe." She is now worried if the building structure of her home will be compromised due to rain waterlogging. However, Shemim and her son Reyhan Mohammed Shemim said they are happy to back home in Sharjah.

"I am pleased to back. To see so many people suffering was a disturbing sight. Also, there was no electricity for three days. So, we could not use our phones also. I am still worried about home, but I am happy to come back and teach," said Shemim.

Meanwhile, school department heads and expecting a slow return of teachers from Kerala. Arrangements will be made to facilitate their needs. Teachers from some schools in Sharjah and Dubai have already begun working, and according to Rachel Pereira, supervisor of OOEHS, Girls said, "There are about seven teachers from my department who have not made it back yet. However, the school will be very flexible with students and teachers who have been stranded in Kerala."

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

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• India

Dhanusha Gokulan

• dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com