This story happened a long time ago, but it is a story worth telling!
Before 3 PM on a day we’ll never forget, we finished our usual work and made our way to Kumbichchankulam Lake. What we found there was beyond heartbreaking, thousands of fish, including tiny hatchlings, lay lifeless along the surface and shore of the water. The scene was silent and grim, the smell already beginning to settle, and the stillness of death hung heavily in the air. It was a somber sight that shook us all to our core. We realized immediately that if these fish remained in the water, they would cause further contamination, making the situation even worse for any surviving aquatic life. There was no time to waste. With the help of a kind villager, we found two small boats and began a manual cleanup operation around nearly a kilometer of the lake’s perimeter. Our team, who were tired after a full day of work, mustered up the energy we had left and worked together for over four hours, pulling out the dead fish in the sweltering heat. The labor was exhausting, but we were motivated by the knowledge that our actions were protecting not just the surviving fish but the entire ecosystem of the lake. It may not have been a complete solution, but it was a start and a meaningful one.
What this experience taught us is that even when faced with overwhelming odds, taking action matters. It reminded us that the smallest effort, when done with intention and care, can help steer things toward healing. And though this event took place a long time ago, its message remains deeply relevant to us. We all share a responsibility to protect our environment, and through compassion and teamwork, we can make a real difference, no matter how heavy the task.
