Youths risk lives to save others

Kottayam: Ashraf Kutty and his boys are not only an asset for their native town Erattupetta, but are good Samaritans for many.
‘Nanma Koottam’, a 42-member group formed by Ibrahim Kutty, are a bunch of youngsters who rushes to spots of accidents, including drowning and fire, to rescue lives of people. The service is free.
The gang, which has been making efforts to save lives of others over the years without any monetary benefit, has already gained the confidence of people’s representatives, police and fire and rescue units.
Any accidents or emergency at Erattupetta, Poonjar or Vagamon area, authorities immediately get in touch with ‘Nanma Koottam’.
Their service was sought by authorities to conduct search for the missing people of a television crew at Mundar in Kaduthuruthy recently. “We were asked to arrive at the spot to search for the missing people by Pala tahasildar,” said Kutty.
It was the members of the gang which first spotted the body of one of the missing person at Mundar.
There are 15 underwater diving experts in the team. Though they lack modern diving equipment, they have been trained by diving experts and fire and rescue unit experts.
The group had saved lives of 11 people, says Kutty. The regions surrounding Erattupetta are accident-prone with lots of waterbodies, gorges and waterfalls.
The gang always keep Rs 42,000 ready with them for meeting medical expenses of victims during rescue operations. Each member contributes Rs 1,000. They have also made tie-ups with two private hospitals at Erattupetta and an ambulance service provider.