Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday demanded a government job for the wife of R. Rajesh, the 36-year-old rescue volunteer who died while involved in rescue work during the flood at Cherupuzha in Kannur.
Mr. Vijayan, who spoke to the media after visiting Rajesh’s house in Thiruvananthapuram, said the government should also ensure assistance for the education of Rajesh’s two children.
“We have models for how the State governments in the past have taken care of families in such situations. The government should be ready to follow such models. Rajesh had incurred some debts while being involved in social service. Help should also be ensured by the government to repay these,” he said.
Mr. Vijayan also reiterated his earlier criticism regarding the handling of Rajesh’s mortal remains. Relatives had alleged that Rajesh’s mortal remains putrefied en route to his family home in Thiruvananthapuram from Kannur due to the government’s failure to commandeer an ambulance kitted out with a mobile freezer. The fiasco smacked of contempt for the brave heart who had sacrificed his life to save fellow citizens from the gushing floodwaters, said Mr. Vijayan.
Published – August 10, 2026 08:44 pm IST
