Union minister Rajnath Singh conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas in Idukki and Ernakulam districts on Sunday. (Twitter/@CMOKerala)
Terming the flood-situation in Kerala as “very serious”, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday announced an immediate relief of an additional Rs 100 crore to the rain-ravaged state. Taking to Twitter, he said, “I understand the suffering of the people of Kerala due to this unprecedented crisis. Since assessment of damages will take some time, I hereby announce immediate relief of additional Rs 100 crores.”
Singh had conducted an aerial survey of Idukki and Ernakulam districts along with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, MoS Tourism Alphons Kannanthanam and Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan. “I would like to assure the state government that all sorts of support will be provided by the central government to meet the challenges of the flood situation,” he said.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan estimated the preliminary loss to be around Rs 8,316 crore.
The Meteorological Department has forecast a heavy to very heavy rain in eight districts for the next four days. The toll in the unprecedented rain, which has lashed the state since August 8, rose to 37, with eight more incidents of drowning reported on Saturday. However, the total number of people in relief camps in various districts came down from 53,500 on Friday to 35,874 as a section of the affected people returned home since the flood retreated from many areas. READ in MALAYALAM
As per latest official figures, more than 60,000 people, including women, toddlers and senior citizens, have been lodged in various relief camps across 14 districts of the southern state following the unprecedented monsoon rains that triggered floods and landslips in several places.
DMK Working President MK Stalin has announced a relief of Rs one crore to the Kerala government, on behalf of his party. He also expressed his condolences to the bereaved families. A DMK press statement said, "Unprecedented floods in Kerala have affected many people and has caused damage to properties worth crores. The party's working president M K Stalin has decided to contribute Rs 1 crore to Kerala Chief Minister's Relief Fund."
On August 9, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami had announced a contribution of Rs 5 crore as a mark of support to the rain-ravaged state.
A detailed memorandum will be submitted as soon as the assessment of the damages is completed, the CM said. He added that the state government has requested the Centre to declare the calamity as that of 'rare severity’ and provide the required funds and assistance.
The CM has requested an amount of Rs 400 crore in addition to the Rs 820 crore already sought for carrying out the immediate relief and rehabilitation. The CM also requested that a central team may be sent again to assess the damages that occurred last week.
"The impact of the disaster is likely to be felt for a long time. Preliminary assessment indicates that nearly 20,000 houses have been fully damaged and nearly 10,000 km of state PWD roads damaged. The preliminary loss is around Rs 8316 crore," Vijayan said.
"CM expressed his gratitude for the expeditious response of the Home Ministry, Defence Ministry, Indian Army, Indian Air force, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and National Disaster Response Force in assisting the state," he tweeted.
"Between 9th and 12th of this month, 37 lives have been lost and 5 persons are still missing. So far, 186 lives have been lost in the heavy rainfalls and floods. There had been 211 landslides. Tens of thousands are in the relief camps," the CM said.
"State is in the midst of the second worst flood after 1924 and the heavy rainfall continues unabated. Ten out of the 14 districts are severely affected. Twenty-seven major dam shutters have been opened. The calamities are of rare severity and the damages caused are enormous," the CM said.
CM Pinarayi Vijayan submitted a representation to Rajnath Singh during the latter's visit to the state. The CM also expressed gratitude for the minister's timely visit.
"In order to supplement the efforts of the state government, just before leaving for Kerala I have approved the release the second instalment of Rs 80.25 crore in advance for the SDRF," the Union minister said.
The minister added, "The floods in Kerala affected the Tourism sector in a big way and also adversely impacted the daily lives of more than one lakh people in the state. Thousands of them have been shifted to relief camps. I also visited a relief camp and became aware of their sufferings. I must say that the entire nation is firmly standing by the people of Kerala at this difficult hour. The Centre is closely monitoring the situation here and providing all possible assistance to Kerala. We will leave no stone unturned to mitigate this unprecedented disaster."
"An unprecedented flood situation is facing the state of Kerala. It is unprecedented because never before in the history of independent India, Kerala had to witness such massive floods. These floods have caused massive damage to the crops like paddy, banana plantations and to the cash crops like spices. It has caused severe damage to infrastructure like roads, power lines and individual property," Rajnath Singh said.
Ministry of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said all passports which have been damaged in the floods will be replaced free of cost. "There are unprecedented floods in Kerala causing huge damage. We have decided that as the situation becomes normal, passports damaged on account floods shall be replaced free of charge. Please contact the concerned Passport Kendras. #KeralaFloods Pls RT," she tweeted.
According to the latest official figures, more than 60,000 people, including women, toddlers and senior citizens, have been lodged in various relief camps across 14 districts of the southern state following the unprecedented monsoon rains that triggered floods and landslips in several places. Although the intensity of rains has decreased to some extent, the anxiety and fear continue to grip the people living in relief camps across the state. Many of them are scared to return, many are clueless about where to go and many are yet to get over their loss.
After conducting a survey of the affected areas, Rajnath Singh said the situation is very serious in Kerala. He also assured all possible help from the Centre to the state.
After conducting the survey, Singh said the situation in Kerala is very serious. He also assured all possible help from the Centre to the state.
Rajnath Singh is accompanied by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, MoS Tourism Alphons Kannanthanam and Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan.
According to a Defence release, the Army personnel from Pangode military station at Thiruvananthapuram and the Madras regiment reconstructed a road damaged at Kochukodakallu-Machiplavu area in Idukki. They also distributed food and medicines at a camp at Adimali the district.
According to news agency ANI, the connectivity to Virinjapara in Mankulam area, Idukki district, has been restored by the Army. The concrete bridge, connecting the village. was washed away two days ago. Over 800 families reside in the village.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has landed in Kerala. The Union minister will conduct a survey of the flood-affected areas and visit relief camps.
33 people have died in the floods & 6 are missing. Such a destruction has never before been witnessed in the state. The entire state has come together in these circumstances and we are ready to do whatever is necessary: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had yesterday warned that heavy to very heavy rains were expected in 16 states, including Kerala, till tomorrow. The weather department has issued a 'Red alert',asking people to be cautious as there was a possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall in most places in Idukki, Wayanad, Kannur, Ernakulam, Palakkad and Malappuram districts. Around 1,500 houses were damaged partially and 101 have been destroyed completely in rain fury in the state during the last few days, according to the disaster control room officials here.
Worst hit by floods are areas of Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Idukki and Mallapuram. 10 columns comprising more than 40 composite teams are working round the clock to ensure that even the last person stranded at any remote floods hit area is rescued: Indian Army
As many as 14 teams of NDRF consisting of 404 rescuers and 31 boats were already deployed in various parts of flood-hit districts -- Thrissur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Wayand, Kozhikode and Idukki to assist the state administration in the relief and rescue operation as well as distribution of essential relief material and to provide medical support to affected people at the time of emergency. By Saturday, the NDRF teams had rescued seven people and evacuated 398 others and 12 livestock, the statement said.
Official sources at the Kerala Disaster Management Authority said the districts of Idukki and Wayanad have sounded a red alert among the eight districts. “The death toll has risen from 29 to 37 in a day. However, today’s death cases were separate incidents of drowning in swollen water bodies. No fresh cases of landslide-related death was reported on Saturday. In the last three days, crops on over 1,430 hectares of land perished in the flood. The exact figure of loss can be assessed only after water subsides,’’ sources said.
As the Meteorological Department forecast heavy to very heavy rain in eight of 14 districts of Kerala for the next four days, the government on Saturday urged its machinery and people to be on high alert. The toll in the unprecedented rain, which has lashed the state since August 8, rose to 37, with eight more incidents of drowning reported on Saturday. READ MORE HERE
After conducting an aerial survey of the flood-hit regions with cabinet colleagues and senior bureaucrats, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that alertness should be maintained until August 15. “It is a major relief that the water level in the two biggest dams, Idukki and Edamalayar, has come down slightly. However, the forecast about heavy rain in the coming days should be taken seriously,” he said.
Welcome to Kerala rains Live blog. At least 37 people have died and multiple injured after heavy rains lashed Kerala on Friday and Saturday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan visted the flood-affected sites on Saturday. Home Minister Rajnath Singh will conduct an aerial survey of the state today