Kerala floods: Tharoor in Geneva to seek UN assistance

Geneva, Aug 21: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor to meet the United Nations agencies for their assistance in rebuilding his home state Kerala which has witnessed unprecedented crisis due to floods.

Tharoor, Thiruvananthapuram MP, said "While seeking help is the prerogative of the Govt of India, i am here, in close consultation with CMO Kerala, CM Pinarayi Vijayan, to explore what help could be possible if sought."

He tweeted, " Landed in Geneva to meet w/ @UN & international humanitarian agencies for consultations on #KeralaFloods. While seeking help is the prerogative of the Govt of India, i am here, in close consultation w/ @CMOKerala @vijayanpinarayi, to explore what help could be possible if sought."

Landed in Geneva to meet w/ @UN & international humanitarian agencies for consultations on #KeralaFloods. While seeking help is the prerogative of the Govt of India, i am here, in close consultation w/ @CMOKerala @vijayanpinarayi, to explore what help could be possible if sought

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 20, 2018

However, the CMO Kerala stated that Tharoor was not their representative at UNited Nations, reports News 18.

The Union Home Ministry has declared the crisis in Kerala as a calamity of severe nature in view of the "intensity and magnitude" of the floods and landslides in the state. The Ministry noted that at least 247 people have lost their lives in the rains, floods and landslides in the state, while over 17,000 huts/houses have been damaged.

Earlier, Tharoor met with former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's family to pay condolence. Kofi Annan passed away on Saturday in Geneva, Switzerland.