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Modi to visit Kerala to survey flood damage but more heavy rain predicted for 3-4 days

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Kerala CMO issues alert asking those sending distress messages to put a date and time stamp on requests for better deployment of resources.

Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Kerala to see for himself the havoc wreaked by the unprecedented floods in the state even as fresh heavy rainfall has been predicted for the next three or four days.

The state has now seen close to 37 per cent excess rainfall since June this year.

Although the meteorological department has predicted heavy rainfall for the next three to four days, officials said rescue operations will not be hampered and additional teams have been sanctioned and deployed.

The state administration is still struggling to ensure safe passage and evacuation of residents from the worst hit areas of Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur. All 14 districts in the state have now been put on red alert.

The rising water levels of the Periyar, Chalakudy and Pamba rivers have endangered the surrounding districts of Ernakulam, Thrissur, Pathanamthitta and Allapuzha.

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the death toll in the state has touched 324 since 8 August.

With Kerala seeking more disaster relief forces, the Centre has now engaged additional contingents to take part in the rescue. The prime minister has also asked the defence ministry to step up operations in the flood-hit areas and ensure adequate food and medicine supplies to the evacuated families.

Relief and rescue operations

Meanwhile, Vijayan’s office issued an alert asking those sending distress messages through social media or otherwise to put a date and time stamp on their requests for efficient deployment of resources. “Ensure that you add date and time along with the exact location, any significant landmark, district, number of stranded people and contact number of the victims in all new requests,” it stated.


Also read: ‘Who visited Kerala’s flood-hit first?’ BJP finds a way to score brownie points


Additional chief secretary (revenue) P.H. Kurian said massive relief and rescue operations are being conducted with all forces — Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Coast Guard, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other central armed police forces — being pressed into action. Kurian said the cabinet secretary has directed that a steady supply of clean drinking water, dry food packets and powdered milk be made available to the people.

Government appeal

According to the chief minister’s office, nearly 2.23 lakh people are staying in 1,568 relief camps that have been set up across the state.

As of now, 18 NDRF teams, 9 columns and 8 teams of the Engineering Task Force (ETC) of the Army, 22 teams of the Coast Guard, 24 diving teams of the Navy along with helicopters, aircraft, boats, equipment, life boys and life jackets have been dispatched to the state.

A statement from the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) said more than 2,182 persons have been rescued and 968 stranded people have been evacuated by NDRF.

The Kochi Airport, almost submerged in water, has been rendered non-operational until 26 August. Landslides and flooding have blocked roads and highways, disconnecting many parts of the state.

The Kerala government has already put out appeals for financial donations as well as transportation of essential items to the state to help the people who have been displaced by the floods.


Also read: Photos of RSS workers helping Kerala flood victims are from Gujarat last year


 

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1 COMMENT

  1. Wife told me she has sold some shares to contribute to the CM’s Relief Fund. The losses when they are totted up will be numbing. The worst floods in a century, in times of climate change, unfortunately does not mean that havoc on this scale will not recur for another 100 years. High rainfall states and cities will have to start planning and setting aside financial resources to deal with such contingencies. Fortunately, the combined resources of the armed forces are available to assist the civilian authorities, who would otherwise be stretched to breaking point.

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