Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about total loss of about Rs 195 billion in the state due to the unprecedented natural calamity. The torrential rain in the state has claimed a huge loss to the economy and lives. PM Modi had visited Kerela on Saturday to take a stock of the situation. The flood has costed 324 lives and left 223, 139 people homeless. According to sources, the casualties are expected to go up. 1,500 relief camps have been put on where 223,139 people are sheltered.
The Prime Minister has announced an immediate financial assistance of Rs 5 billion for Kerala. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had also announced an assistance of Rs 1 billion last week after the high-level review meeting in the Kochi. The state had asked for R 20 billion from the Central government for relief and rehabilitation of the state.
“NDRF teams, companies of the BSF, CISF and RAF are deployed in the state for rescue and relief operations. The Air Force, Army, Navy and Coast Guard are assisting operations in different parts of Kerala. Rescuing those who are trapped remains the topmost priority,” Modi posted on Twitter.
Predicting a heavy rainfall on Saturday, except three districts, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kasaragod, all the other 11 districts o the state were issued red alert. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the state received 170 per cent more precipitation than the normal between August 1 and August 17.
“Kerala is not expected to receive heavy rainfall from August 20, the intensity of rainfall in the state would reduce in the next two to three days,” said additional director general of IMD, Mritunjay Mohapatra.
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