How about an online platform to help people trace lost and found items? With several lost and found articles being reported across the state during the recent floods, the online platform 'Missing Cart', developed by a start-up, promises to be of help to hundreds of people.
The app was born from a lost bag during a rail journey. Five months ago, Hashir C P, co-founder of the startup went to a friend's marriage in Kottayam and he lost his bag in the train. He informed the railway authorities about the missing item. For the next one month, he got several calls from the Thiruvananthapuram railway station to identify his bag.
Finally, he was able to reclaim his bag. The incident triggered the new startup idea in his mind. He shared the idea with his friend Pradeep K. For the past one year, the duo was brainstorming for a startup idea and the incident became the eureka moment for them and the app, which aims to ensure every lost item is sent back to its lawful owner as quickly and as efficiently as possible, was born.
"We went to Thiruvananthapuram to claim the bag. There a room was filled with materials lost from travellers. The authorities said it was a huge mess to handle the materials," said Pradeep, co-founder of the platform.
As of now, the platform plays a middleman between people, he added. The startup is in contact with Kerala Startup Mission and flood relief coordinators to help people, who lost their valuables during their exodus to camps and other safe stations. "Found UAE residents cards from a purse recovered from flood water," one of the messages on the website read. The contact number and picture of the card were also posted in the message. People can post about their lost articles on the website.
Similarly, those who found materials can post about it. The website will give auto-suggestions from found items matching the description about the lost item. When the item is seen on the website, people can contact the other end to get the article. As of now, the Railways and airports have lost and found counters in India. But no online platforms, claims Pradeep.