Prime Minister Narendra Modi arriving at the Naval Base in Kochi, August 18, 2018 | Photo Credit: Kerala Information and Public Relations Department
The PM’s aerial survey had to be cancelled due to poor weather
Over 82,000 people in Kerala have been displaced due to the floods that have ravaged the State over the last nine days. As of Friday night, 164 were killed between August 8 and 17, and more than 3,14,000 people have been shifted to 2094 relief camps.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the capital Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, after attending the funeral of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to conduct an aerial survey of the State on Saturday.
9.55 a.m.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently at a review meeting in Kochi where the government is expected to raise demands for more Central assistance to tackle the floods. He will have an aerial sortie before returning to Delhi around 11 a.m.
Meanwhile, responding to the repeated pleas from Chengannur MLA Saji Cherian, four more helicopters have been despatched to Chengannur for emergency rescue operations. More boats are also being sent to Chengannur to reach remote locations.
9.25 a.m.
Chengannur MLA says at least 50 dead in area
Chengannur MLA Saji Cherian has said that at least 50 persons have died in Chengannur area alone. He said the bodies could be rotting as there is no way of burying them. All roads are blocked and vehicular movement is next to impossible.
Helicopters have been pressed into service from early morning. Many more helicopters would be needed to reach remote areas. There is also a severe shortage of food and medicines, he said.
As of Friday, over 64,000 people were rescued in Chengannur and Kuttanad, in Alappuzha district.
8.45 a.m
Modi’s aerial survey cancelled
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aerial survey has been cancelled due to inclement weather, according to official sources. Mr. Modi had arrived at the Naval Base in Kochi from Thiruvananthapuram but could not take off again for the survey.
The PM, along with CM Pinarayi Vijayan, were set to survey the flood-hit areas in Aluva, Chalakudy and Chengannur.
The Prime Minister is chairing a review meeting at the Naval Base at Kochi where the government is expected to raise demands for more Central assistance to tackle the floods. The meeting is at a conference hall near the Naval Hospital Sanjivani on the Southern Naval Command campus.
One of the major demands is for the declaration of a national disaster in Kerala to make the State eligible for more funds from the Centre. The State will also demand more funds to be released for relief work, in addition to the 260 crore already sanctioned in three phases.
Help us help Kerala
The Hindu Group of Publications invites its readers to join hands in the task of raising funds in aid of the victims of this calamity. We have set up a Relief Fund, to which generous contributions from readers are invited. The amount thus received will be made over to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF).
Support from UAE PM
The Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, pledged his support and called on the community to contribute towards flood relief, in a series of tweets. The UAE has a sizeable diaspora from Kerala.
He tweeted: “The state of Kerala in India is currently witnessing huge floods, the most devastating in a century. Hundreds have been killed, hundreds of thousands have been displaced. Ahead of Eid Al Adha, do not forget to extend a helping hand to our brothers in India. The people of Kerala have always been and are still part of our success story in the UAE. We have a special responsibility to help and support those affected, especially during this holy and blessed days.”
Trial by water: How Kerala is coping with an extraordinary natural disaster
With the monsoon fury showing little sign of abating, S. Anandan and M.P. Praveen report on how Kerala is coping with an extraordinary natural disaster made worse by a fragile flood management system.
82,000 rescued in battered Kerala
Hundreds of volunteers and fishworkers in Kerala joined teams from the armed forces, the National Disaster Response Force, and State government agencies on Friday in a massive operation to rescue over 82,000 persons from flooded locations in four districts.
The rescue efforts, which commenced at daybreak, continued into the night. Helicopters and boats were pressed into service at Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur to locate flood victims, drop food supplies, and shift people to higher locations.
How to donate towards Kerala flood relief efforts:
Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) accepts voluntary contributions from Individuals, Organizations, Trusts, Companies and Institutions etc. All contributions towards CMDRF are exempt from Income Tax under section 80(G).
Donations now accepted through UPI mobile app like BHIM, paytm, Tez, Phonepe also.
(VPA : keralacmdrf@sbi) / Scan the QR Code to donate
For Bank Counter Payment
Beneficiary Name : Principal Secretary (Fin), Treasurer CMDRF
Bank Name : State Bank of India (SBI)
Account Number : 67319948232
Branch : City Branch, Thiruvananthapuram
IFSC : SBIN0070028
For offline Contribution
Cheque/Demand Draft can be drawn in the favour of Principal Secretary (Finance), Treasurer CMDRF, payable at Thiruvananthapuram. The same may be posted/mailed to the following address:
Principal Secretary (Finance)
Treasurer CMDRF
Secretariat
Thiruvananthapuram – 695 001
Kerala, INDIA
For effective collaboration and communications between authorities, volunteers and public, the following website has been created http://keralarescue.in/
(Information provided by the Chief Minister’s Office, Kerala)
Courtesy: The Hindu
