Kerala floods: Amid row over foreign aid, state focuses on rehabilitation
Over one million people are now sheltered in 3,274 relief camps in Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Monday, even as rains that killed 373 people, have finally abated.
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 24: With rescue operations in rain-ravaged Kerala nearly over, the focus is now on taking care of the over 10.40 lakh people staying in relief camps and rehabilitating people whose houses were destroyed in the deluge, even as the row over accepting foreign aid for relief work saw the Congress and Left attacking the Centre.
More than 50,000 volunteers have taken up the task of cleaning houses and public places filled with mud deposits and debris dumped by the floodwaters in the rain fury.
Meanwhile, health department officials said post-floods their focus has shifted to ensuring medical attention for the injured and the people living in shelter camps, cleaning of houses and wells, distribution of medicines and cleaning materials to the affected people.
As many as 387 people have been killed while over nine lakh are sheltered in relief camps in the state.
How to help flood-hit people of Kerala
Here are the Highlights on Kerala rains:
#KeralaFloods Report:
— NDMA India (@ndmaindia) August 24, 2018
Human Lives Lost: 387
Number of Relief Camps Opened:3083
Inmates in the Relief Camps:11,35,626#KeralaFloods2018
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan conducts an in-person review of the functioning of relief camps in Chengannur #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/jNIp7AjySS
— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2018
#Kerala: Nagaland Deputy CM Y Patton today met Kerala CM and gave a cheque for Kerala CM Relief Fund, on behalf of Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/fTaA7ETUdi
— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2018
"Unfortunately, I am sorry to say that the financial assistance announced by the Government of India is quite disappointing as far the magnitude of the crisis is concerned"- Former CM Ommen Chandy in a letter to PM Modi #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/J9fmfe0XWn
— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2018
CM Pinarayi Vijayan extended Eid al-Adha greetings to all. The people of Kerala are in a great struggle to rebuild their lives after the flood. May this Eid be an inspiration for all of them. #EidAlAdha #EidMubarak
— CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) August 22, 2018
Cochin Airport suspends operations till Aug 26
The waters may be receding in Kerala but previous post-flood scenarios in other states suggest it could take years for the southern state to help rebuild its people's lives, destroyed in one of the worst floods in a century, and some more to implement measures that could significantly minimise the impact of a similar disaster.
[Kerala cancels Onam celebrations after worst floods hits the state]
The Kerala government has estimated a loss of Rs 20,000 crore, with Idukki, Malappuram, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts being the worst affected. Government officials say the state's topmost priority is to rescue people and provide lakhs of the affected with relief materials. They, however, admit that rebuilding the state will be a "daunting task".