Village loses Good Samaritan to floods

Good Samaritan Francis, who became a known face after he rescued people when his village was inundadted due to rains, sadly got washed away himself.

A pall of gloom descended on the village of Hattihole on hearing the death of Francis.

Francis, popularly known as Appu, got washed away in the recent floods.

Francis spoke to his wife before going missing.

He warned her about the impending rising water levels near his house and asked her to vacate the premise.

His wife Flavia Jyothi is now sheltered at St Joseph Church relief centre.

“Heavy rain had lashed the village on August 17. Francis had gone to his friend Gautham’s house to charge his mobile phone but did not return home.

His body has now been found in the stream situated 100 metre away from the house,” she said with tears in her eyes.

In fact, Francis had helped all those who were affected by the floods in Hattihole on August 16.

However, he too got washed away in the same floods the following day.

Friends of the family along with NDRF, police and a rafting team had been looking for him in Hattihole and Madapura for the past 10 days.

The family buried Francis as per Christian tradition at Hattihole.