In Navi Mumbai, a homeless man over 60 years old was found lying in a weak and dehydrated state at the Uran Phata bus stop near Seawoods. He had been without proper food and water for days and was on the brink of death when a social worker noticed him and intervened.
The man was cleaned, provided with food and water, and taken to a shelter in New Panvel, where he regained some strength. He identified himself as Chintamani Ganya Umaikar from Ratnagiri, but could not recall his exact address.
Pastor K M Philip, founder of the Social and Evangelical Association for Love (SEAL) Ashram, was the rescuer. He said, "Several passersby and commuters must have noticed Umaikar at the bus stop, but no one could help him. It is just by sheer luck that I saw him while driving to a hospital for my own medical treatment."
A social worker involved in the rescue said, "We will now try to locate the family members of Umaikar and reunite him with them. We also urge the government to start a user-friendly helpline service so that citizens can simply message a particular number and save the lives of such homeless people, especially during harsh summer conditions when dehydration can become fatal."
Another city activist added, "The homeless people are the most vulnerable and least cared for in our society. They really need to be rescued and given medical treatment to help them have a chance at a better life."
Dr. Abraham Mathai, SEAL's chief patron, remarked that compassion, which was instinctive and selfless, helped save Umaikar. The story highlights the ongoing need for community support and government action to protect the homeless, particularly during extreme weather.
