IAS officer Who Took Leave To Work For Kerala Flood Relief Is The Internet’s New Hero

As Kerala battled its worst flood in a century, we came across many extra-ordinary acts of kindness

By: Rakesh Jha |
September 6, 2018 11:37 am

As Kerala battled its worst flood in a century, we came across many extra-ordinary acts of kindness where people went the extra-mile to help those in distress. One of them is this story of an IAS officer who took leave from duty to work for nearly ten days in flood-hit state without revealing his original identity.

Kannan Gopinathan, the district collector of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, took a personal leave from his job and volunteered at relief camps and collection centres where he reportedly helped with loading of relief materials to be sent to flood-hit areas.

The young bureaucrat, hailing from Kottayam, stepped in to help out in whatever way he could, even helping with physically loading and unloading relief material at the centre, onmanorama reported._Before he began volunteering, Kannan had handed over a cheque of Rs 1 crore as the union territory’s contribution to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. After completing his official duty, he took a personal leave and engaged himself in helping people affected by the deluge.

According to this Twitter thread by Jikku Varghese Jacob, he even travelled in KSRTC buses and went through five districts in 10 days as just another volunteer. Even his own family wasn’t aware of his presence in the state._When someone questioned his identity, he introduced himself as an NGO worker.

#Thread Here’s an incredible story about a young man who was busy with loading and unloading in #KeralaFloods relief centres. Only days later people came to know that he was none other than, Kannan Gopinathan, the Collector of Dadra & Nagar Haveli! (1/n) pic.twitter.com/PICbgoHn70

– Jikku Varghese Jacob (@Jikkuvarghese) September 5, 2018

It was only after the district collector of Ernakulum visited the relief funds that he recognised the young gentleman._An alumnus of BIT Mesra, Kannan had quit his job as a design engineer to prepare for civil services and cleared it with 59th rank.

Twitter was in awe of the young officer

Setting right examples … Leading from front …I sense a positivity in indian bureaucracy …propelled by young officers #godspeed

— havaldar bahadur (@gyan9881) September 5, 2018

True spirit of All India Service,always eager to serve and above all Ambassadors of National Integration..__

— pramod kumar (@pkmerkap) September 5, 2018

A big salute gentleman….

— Ismayilpoyil (@ismayilpoyil) September 6, 2018

InUth contacted Kannan for comment after the Internet hailed him as a hero, and this copy will be updated after he responds.