Aidposts, Help desk set up for Keralites returning from Lebanon

Kochi, Jul 21 (UNI) The district authorities here have set up two aid posts to give all assistance to the Keralites returning from strife-torn Lebanon, officials said.

The first batch of Keralites is expected to arrive here tomorrow via Chennai.

Two aid posts -- one each at the Nedumbaserry International Airport and the Ernakulam Jn. railway station -- will be functional from 0600 hrs. tomorrow.

These will be equipped with medical and transportation facilities and police assistance. Temporary accommodation would also be arranged in collaboration with the Public Works Department, if necessary, district information department officials said.

District Collector A P M Mohammad Haneesh and City Police Commmissioner P Vijayan discussed the relief arrangements today and deputed officials to monitor the working of the assistance posts.

A helpline, under the supervision of RDO Mini Antony, is also being set up at the phone number 0484-2215340.

Meanwhile, the Non-Resident Keralite Affairs (NORKA) department has also set up a help desk at Thiruvananthapuram, which can be contacted on telephone numbers 0471-2332416 and 2332452.

According to a UNI report from Delhi, of the 607 passengers reaching India by two special Air India aircraft from war-torn Lebanon tonight, ten are from Kerala. The aircraft will land at Mumbai and Chennai.

A majority of those returning tonight are from Tamil Nadu.

UNI ARC VS1855