City lawyers have come together to help flood-hit Kerala, with the Bombay Bar Association (BBA) contributing ₹2.5 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
In an appeal, the Mumbai Lawyers Forum for Kerala Flood Relief said, “An unfortunate severe disaster has fallen upon the people of Kerala due to unprecedented floods. We decided to stand with our distressed brothers and sisters and actively participate in the national and international effort to support them to survive and rebuild their lives. Nature’s fury has claimed lives of more than 350 people. Lakhs are still reeling under severe floods, many villages completely submerged. Agriculture, roads and other infrastructure completely destroyed. Official preliminary observation of the losses crosses well beyond ₹20,000 crore.”
Advocate Sajan Oommen said, “Lawyers are always at the forefront when it comes to a crisis. Many lawyers in Mumbai, especially from Kerala, decided to get people to contribute to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. My entire family in Kerala was sitting on their building’s terrace for four days with just the clothes they were wearing.”
The lawyers have also also spoken to the Acting Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Naresh Patil and Justice K.R. Shriram, registrar general S.B. Agrawal, Advocate-General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni and Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, who have agreed to help and contribute in all ways possible.
Milind Sathe, president, BBA, appealed to lawyers to come forward and help. He said, “You are all aware that the State of Kerala is facing an unprecedented and grave natural calamity of floods. The devastating floods have rendered lakhs of people homeless. Many lives are lost. The infrastructural facilities, roads, electricity, bridges, railways are destroyed by flood waters. Kerala is facing one of the worst floods in a century. The Chief Minister of Kerala has appealed to common people to contribute to a relief fund set up for bringing life back to normalcy. In this difficult time, we must stand in solidarity and intend to provide help to the stranded people by contributing to the rescue and relief efforts.”
The Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa has also made an appeal asking for all help to flood victims in Kerala.