KOLLAM: “Though I did not know how to swim, I was floating like a canoe in the Kallada River. I had no hope of surviving this” Shyamala Amma (63), a Kulakkada native, who floated almost 12 km in the dangerous Kallada river is still not out from the shock.

The miraculous survival is now spreading like wildfire in her village. Apart from the small bruises, Shyamala Amma had no other serious injuries. She is now undergoing treatment in the ICU of the district hospital. She was spreading the washed dresses on the clothesline when her legs quivered and slipped.

Even Shyamala failed to initially recognize that she had indeed fallen to the shallow Kallada river. Surprisingly, she floated on the river and tried to hold onto something. She always tried to lift her head and battled the strong current despite her body falling to lethargy amidst the monsoon cold. In the meantime, a creeper plant came to her rescue while some people on the shore noticed the strange sight. The locals then took a boat and made the rescue act, putting a finish to the miraculous escape.

Shyamala Amma floated past Chettiyarazhikathu Bridge, Kunnathur Bridge and Njankadau Bridge in her 12 km survival journey. People who heard her screams informed the police and fire force about the incident. Experts say that the air trapped in the nightie might have prevented her from drowning. The family and locals are still in disbelief about the whole incident.