A large canvas is stretched across the iron fence of the Secretariat. The images of tears, prayers, hopes and despair flicker one after the other. Looking at the frames, even wayfarers can’t pass without letting out a sigh or spending a moment of silence.
The lives battered and bruised by Cyclone Ockhi, captured by the press photographers in Thiruvananthapuram, are put up in a two-day photo exhibition organised by the Press Club here at this open venue. As many as 103 photos on display belong to 54 photographers in the capital city.
“The images bring a full picture of the disaster captured right from the day the cyclone wreaked havoc on the coastal areas to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan distributing financial aid to the affected recently. The impact was more at the sea than the coast as fishermen ventured out to the deep sea for their day’s work, not knowing the impending disaster,” says G. Pramod, treasurer of the Press Club.
Images captured by our lensmen Peethambaran Payyeri, A.V. Muzafar and G.G. Abhijith are also showcased at the exhibition.
When the rescue operations were on, a media delegation comprising print and visual media representatives had accompanied coastguard and fishermen engaging in the life-saving act. Photographs taken during this time can be seen at the show. Mediapersons were also part of Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran’s helicopter ride to coordinate the rescue activities. Those aerial shots are also there.
At the end of it, there’d be something to restore the lost smiles on the desperate faces seen on the frames – a decent contribution to the Chief Minister’s disaster relief fund. “The Press Club refrained from New Year celebrations this time and there were suggestions to contribute the money for the Ockhi-affected. Apart from that, there’s a fund-raising happening during the exhibition. The Press Club members would give their contribution as well. All the money would go towards the relief fund,” adds Pramod.
The exhibition will conclude at 6 pm on Thursday.
