"Vellapokkathil" (Malayalam: വെള്ളപ്പൊക്കത്തിൽ, English: In the Flood) is a short story written by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai.
[1] Widely considered one of Thakazhi's best stories,[2] it follows the plight of a man named Chennan and his family, as they are trapped in their home during a severe flood.
[3] Set in Kuttanad against the backdrop of the Great flood of 1928, the story begins with a description of a temple submerged in water up to the neck of its deity.
Chennan, a pariah who does not own a boat, has built an elevated platform out of coconut twigs inside his hut to protect his pregnant wife, four children, cat, and dog from the rising waters.
After three days of heavy rainfall, Chennan spots a big boat moving north and yells for help.