Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

The situation in flood-hit Kerala remains grave even after several relief and rescue operations are conducted in the state. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the media on Friday that rescue operations have saved over 80,000 people. 324 people have died and several hundred others are injured in the worst calamity to hit Kerala in 100 years, reported NDTV.

So far, 42 navy, 16 armies, 28 coast guard and 39 National Disaster Relief Force(NDRF) teams have been engaged in rescue operations. Another 14 NDRF teams are expected to arrive in some time. The military has pushed in more than 300 boats. 30 military helicopters are being used in the rescue operation, and another four aircraft and three coast guard ships have also been brought in to increase the efforts, reported NDTV.

The CM told, 71,591 people had been rescued from Aluva district, 5,550 from Chalakudy, 3,060 from Chengannur, 2,000 from Kuttanad, and 741 from Thiruvalla and Aranmula districts, reported The News Minute.

“Central forces, police, fire forces, fishermen are all working together for rescue operations. Over 40,000 police officers, 3,200 firefighters, 46 navy teams, 13 air force teams, 18 army contingents, 16 coastguard contingents and 21 National Disaster Response Force teams had been pressed into service. Disaster management, police, and fire forces are working together with Central forces,” Chief Minister told the reporters at a press conference held on Friday evening at the capital, Thiruvananthapuram.

CM assured that till 6 am on Saturday, 12 big army boats will reach Chalakudy; 5 to Kalady, 15 to Chengannur and 10 more to Thiruvalla for the rescue operations.

16 air force helicopters, 79 NDRF boats and 403 boats were provided by the fishermen to aid in the rescue operations in the state, reported The News Minute.

Three navy helicopters are expected to reach at Thiruvalla, Aranmula, and Kozhencherry on Saturday; 4 air force choppers are set to reach Chalakudy and Chengannur by Saturday morning.

The situation has worsened in Alapuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Pathanamthitta districts, as the roads have totally submerged in the floods.

According to the report of the weather department, since June began more than 321 centimetres (126 inches) of rain has fallen on the hilly district of Idukki, which is now virtually cut off from the rest of the state. Just in this monsoon season, rain in Kerala has seen a nearly-160 per cent rise above normal, reported NDTV.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Kerala CM and announced an immediate flood relief of Rs 500 crores for the state. He also declared a compensation of Rs 2 lakh per person to the family of those killed by rain, floods and landslides and Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured people, from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Funds, reported NDTV. He also took an aerial survey of Kochi to review the state of crisis, was accompanied by the Kerala CM.

By isha

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