Kerala floods: Death toll at 324; PM Modi to undertake aerial survey today
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived late night on Friday in flood-ravaged Kerala, where he would be taking stock of the relief and rescue operation. He was received in Thiruvananthapuram by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala Governor P Sathasivam and Union Tourism Minister KJ Alphons.
The
rains
claimed
106
lives
on
Friday,
alone.
Over
1500
relief
camps
have
been
set
up
across
the
state.
Over
80,000
persons,
stranded
in
flood-hit
districts,
were
rescued
earlier
in
the
day,
of
whom
71,000
were
from
one
of
the
worst
affected
Aluva
regions
of
Ernakulam
district.
Ahead of Modi's arrival, a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office said the death toll had mounted to 324, with over two lakh people left displaced.
Kerala floods: 324 dead, over 80,000 rescued, 3 lakh displaced in one day
"Kerala
is
facing
its
worst
flood
in
100
years.
80
dams
opened,
324
lives
lost
and
223139
people
are
in
about
1500+
relief
camps,"
Vijayan
tweeted
on
Friday
evening.
Vijayan
also
urged
everyone's
help
to
'rebuild
the
lives
of
the
affected' by
contributing
to
the
Chief
Minister's
Distress
Relief
Fund
(CMDRF).
"For the people of Kerala, the road to recovery is going to be a long one. Your help no matter how small will be a step to restore normalcy," Vijayan said in another tweet.
Kerala floods: IMD issues red alert in all 13 districts except Kasaragod today
Rescue Operations are underway as central government has mobilised deployment of 339 motorised boats, 2,800 life jackets, 27 light towers and 1,000 raincoats.
Additionally 72 motor boats, 5,000 life jackets, 2,000 life buoys, 13 light towers and 1,000 raincoats are being deployed, 1,00,000 food packets have been distributed and arrangements are being made to supply another 1,00,000 food packets. Fresh water is currently a big point of concern. Railways has provided 1,20,000 water bottles.
Another 1,20,000 bottles are ready to be despatched. It is also running a special train carrying 2.9 lakh litres of drinking water that will reach Kayamkulam on Saturday.
The Indian Navy has deployed 51 boats along with diving teams, 1,000 life jackets and 1,300 gumboots are being rushed to Kerala on Friday. It has flown 16 sorties in last two days in rescue operations. It will airdrop 1,600 food packets today.
The Coast Guard has deployed 30 boats along with rescue teams, 300 life jackets, seven life rafts and 144 life buoys.
The Army has pressed into service 10 columns, 10 Engineering Task Forces (ETFs), 60 boats and 100 life jackets.
One unit of the Territorial Army has also been deployed in Kerala.