Monsoon toll reaches 131 in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, July 18: As many as 131 people have died in monsoon-triggered natural calamities in Kerala since June one, the Legislative Assembly was informed today.

Replying to the notice for an adjournment motion sought to be moved by Mr K Sudhakaran (Cong) on the monsoon havoc, Food and Civil Supplies Minister C Divakaran said 15 deaths were reported during the last two days alone.

He said 1,446 houses were destroyed and 27,777 partially damaged in the monsoon fury forcing nearly 17,000 people to relief camps.

Deputising for Revenue Minister K P Rajendran, who is currently supervising relief operations along with three other ministers in the worst affected northern districts, Mr Divakaran said a 120-strong team of the Rapid Action Force from Coimbatore and four teams of the National Disaster Management were also engaged in relief operation.

He said an immediate assistance of Rs 20 crore had been made available to the District Collectors to provide succour to the affected people besides sanctioning free ration and supply of of essential commodities kits.

Agreeing for a discussion on the issue, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said the State was yet to get the first instalment of Rs 35 crore promised by the Centre out of an emergency assistance of Rs 100 crore demanded. Besides, the State had submitted a detailed memorandum to the Centre seeking Rs 1,000 crore to provide compensation to the people, who lost properties like houses and crops.

The House will take up discussion on monsoon-related natural calamities in the afternoon after a consensus reached between the Government and the Opposition in the presence of Speaker K Radhakrishnan.

UNI