This mother and son are there in '2018' movie too; Sajitha recollects 2018 flood experience

KOCHI: "Ummy, I will also get in a helicopter when I grow up"... these are the words uttered by baby Subhan as he sat next to his mother Sajitha, who was sharing memories of the historic airlift during the 2018 floods. Subhan will turn five years old in August.

As '2018', directed by Jude Anthany Joseph, is running in packed theatres across the state, Kerala is remembering this mother and son once again. The scene in the film where a fully pregnant woman is airlifted from the middle of the flood waters was inspired by the experience of Aluva native Sajitha Jabeel. At the end of the film, a woman with a baby can be seen waving and thanking the helicopter as it takes off. Sajitha's heart is also getting filled with the same gratitude.

Every birthday of Subhan is a celebration for Jabeel, a mobile shop employee, Sajitha, a housewife, family and friends. Vijay Verma, the commanding officer who conducted the rescue operation and Dr Tamanna, who examined, were present for the first birthday.

Historic life saving

On August 15, 2018, Sajitha and Jabeel were at their house in Chowara. Sajitha was pregnant. Even when other places were becoming flooded they thought they were safe. Suddenly, the water came gushing near the house. Her four-year-old son Naeem and one-and-a-half-year-old son Nueem were soon moved to the nearby Hidayatul Islam Madrasa camp.

Sajitha and her family remained upstairs. Soon, she started experiencing labour pains. The family became scared as the lower floor got completely submerged in water. People found it difficult to reach out to the house to help them. Following this, Sajitha called a relative who was working in the Navy. On the morning of August 17, the Navy team led by Commanding Officer Vijay Verma arrived. It was initially assumed that airlift was not possible in the area due to the presence of power lines. Finally, the commanding officer and the doctor came down and checked Sajitha before airlifting her. Sajitha gave birth to Subhan at 2.15 pm that day at Navy's Sanjeevani hospital in Thevara.