'Didi Ke Bolo' comes to the rescue of persons trapped in K'taka floods

Kolkata: The 'Didi Ke Bolo' (Tell Didi) helpline number launched by Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on July 29 has been instrumental in rescuing some persons who were trapped due to the Karnataka floods.

The state Disaster Management department, after being informed of the problem by their family members through a call on the 'Didi Ke Bolo' helpline number, took up the matter with their counterparts in Karnataka and those who were marooned were rescued quickly and relocated to a safe place.

Some days ago, the 'Didi Ke Bolo' helpline number got a call from a person in South 24-Parganas, who claimed that some members of his family were stuck in their residence at Kaida township, near Karwa city due to floods since the last 4 days, without any supplies.

The caller had sought immediate relief from the government. He mentioned that his sister and brother in-law were in Karnataka affected by floods and there was no electricity and telephone connectivity.

He also added that the Quick Response Team and deputy commissioner of Kaida had failed to provide

any information about their present location after he called on their mobile numbers.

"As soon as I was informed of the distressed family, I along with my Principal Secretary took up the matter with our counterparts in Kaida and informed of the whereabouts of the family, as per description provided by the caller. After some hours, I was relieved to hear that the victims had been rescued by boats and

had been ferried to a safe place," said Javed Ahmed Khan, state minister for Disaster Management and Civil Defence.

The department was also informed that 20 Bengali families who were stuck in the area have been rescued successfully. The caller who had called up the 'Didi Ke Bolo' number also gave the feedback that his family members have been evacuated safely and were doing well.

The minister also informed that another 14 Bengali people who were stuck in Kadur Karnataka have also been rescued in a similar fashion on Sunday.

It may be mentioned that of late there has been some curiosity among common people regarding the nature of suggestions and problems that have been coming on the 'Didi Ke Bolo' platform.

The platform, which is being monitored by a team led by Prashant Kishor, has not shared individual cases, respecting the privacy of the callers/registrants.

But after explicit permission from the caller in this case, the platform shared this serious issue that was resolved.

Meanwhile, a video was posted by Howrah resident Jagannath Chakraborty on the Facebook page of 'Didi Ke Bolo', informing how the helpline has come to the rescue of a patient suffering from TB. Chakraborty had called on the helpline number after the patient was denied treatment in all hospitals and medicine shops also refused to provide medicine for the patient as he was unable to provide any proper address proof.

"When I called the number I was advised to take him to Calcutta

Medical College and contact the deputy superintendent of the hospital. I acted accordingly and the patient is now undergoing treatment at the hospital," Chakraborty shared in

his video.