Rescuers evacuate people from a flooded area to a safer place in Aluva in the southern state of Kerala, India, August 18, 2018. (REUTERS photo)
More than 200,000 families have taken refuge at relief camps set up across the state, an official at the Kerala State Disaster Management office said. Anil Vasudevan, who handles disaster management at the Kerala health department, told Reuters that authorities had isolated three people with chickenpox in one of the relief camps in Aluva town, nearly 250 km from state capital Thiruvananthapuram.
READ | Kerala floods LIVE: Rainfall eases in Kerala, relief operations underway
He said the department was preparing to deal with a possible outbreak of water-borne and air-borne diseases in the camps, where an estimated two million people have taken shelter since the monsoon rains began three months ago.
Meanwhile, for the first time since August 9, no red alert has been issued by the Indian Meteorological Department for any of Kerala’s 14 districts. However, the weather forecast for Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts predicted heavy rains at isolated places. Kerala continues to remain on edge as the death toll since August 8 has climbed to 194. In a boost for rescue and relief operations in the flood-ravaged state, flight operations are set to resume from Kochi Naval Base from tomorrow.
A step-by-step guide on how you can donate to the Kerala CM’s relief fund
Kerala rains LIVE UPDATES: Rescue workers search for the bodies of missing persons after a landslide, triggered by heavy rains and floods, at Nenmara in Palakkad on Friday, Aug 17, 2018. (PTI Photo)
Security checks are underway at Garuda Naval base in Kochi where a commercial flight is coming in after 18 years.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said that West Bengal government will contribute Rs 10 crore to the Kerala Chief Minister’s relief fund in view of the devastating flood in the state. “My heart goes out to the people of Kerala battling #KeralaFloods In this hour of crisis, to stand beside the flood-affected people of Kerala, we have decided to make a contribution of Rs Ten Crore to the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund,” Mamata tweeted. READ MORE HERE
Maharashtra government has set up a 24×7 Kerala Relief Desk at government headquarters, Mantralay, in Mumbai. The decision was taken by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to expedite the process of providing relief and rehabilitation to flood-ravaged Kerala. A decision has been taken to send a team of 50 doctors, led by Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan, to Kerala. The team will leave on Monday. The medical team is part of the emergency drive to provide immediate treatment in wake of the fear of epidemic outbreak due to floods. READ MORE
Special cargo flight carrying another 30 ton of relief material including food from Mumbai was dispatched to flood-hit Kerela on Sunday evening. Yesterday 6.5 tonnes of relief material was dispatched. A medical team comprising of 70 doctors will reach Kerela on Monday.
Manipur Chief Minister tweeted: "People of Manipur stand in solidarity with the people of Kerala, may you find comfort in knowing that the rest of India stand with you. The people of Manipur pray for you and extending a sum of Rs 2 crore to relief funds from the state."
Assam CM Sarbanand Sonwal also expressed his grief at the loss of lives & large scale damage to property due to floods in Kerala and announced Rs 3 crore financial assistance to the Govt of Kerala for rescue & relief operations.
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An imposter allegedly adorned the Indian Army uniform and has been spreading misinformation regarding the IAF efforts across Kerala.
TVS &Sons CEO Mr.Raghavan handed over Rs 1 crore to CM Pinarayi Vijayan today at Trivandrum along with two containers that are coming from Madurai with food and basic amenities.
Indian-origin billionaire businessmen based in the UAE have announced Rs 125 million donation for flood relief operations in the deluge-hit Kerala, according to a media report stated PTI. Nearly 200 people have lost their lives in Kerala since August 8 due to floods caused by rains and landslides, while over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps.
The Manipur government on Sunday donated Rs 2 crore as flood relief for the victims of Kerala hit by days of incessant rainfall and massive floods. "People of Manipur stand in solidarity with the people of Kerala, may you find comfort in knowing that the rest of India stand with you. The people of Manipur pray for you and extending a sum of Rs 2 crore to relief funds from the state, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took to Twitter to announce that all passports damaged in the Kerala floods will be renewed free of cost by the central government.
As per ANI, Seva Bharati, RSS' community service unit is carrying out rescue&relief ops across state. A unit member says 'We stock materials&transport it via trucks&trains.We started this on 15 Aug&will continue as long as it's required'. CPI (M) cadres also continue working in camps to provide relief.
Heavy vehicles carrying vegetables and other essential materials from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are struck for the past two days in Palakkad- Thrissur National Highway after Kuthiran stretch became unmotorable following heavy landslide.