Kerala suffers `19K-cr loss, PM gives `500cr
Declare floods as ‘national disaster’, Rahul tells Centre
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday saluted the people of the rain-ravaged Kerala for their “fighting spirit” and said the nation stands firmly with the state in this hour. He conducted an aerial survey of some of the areas affected by flood.
He presided over a high-level meeting to review the situation in the state which has been battered by heavy rains. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan apprised the Prime Minister of the devastation caused by the floods which has displaced thousands of people. More than 3.5 lakh persons are currently lodged in relief camps across the state. Nearly 1 lakh people have been rescued from the affected areas.
The Chief Minister said as per the initial assessment, the total loss was pegged at `19,512 crore. The actual loss can be ascertained after the water recedes in the affected areas.
The Chief Minister had demanded `2,000 crore as emergency assistance. For now, Mr Modi announced an immediate financial assistance of `500 crore.
Mr Modi also announced compensation of `2 lakh each to the family members of those who died in the floods and `50,000 to the injured from PM’s National Relief Funds.
Mr Modi directed insurance companies to conduct special camps at various places for evaluation of the claims and timely disbursement of compensation to the affected people.
Considering the huge crop loss, the Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to clear claims under Centre’s Fasal Bima Yojana. He asked the National Highways Authority of India to give top priority to repair the national highways which are badly damaged due to floods.
Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi appealed to the Prime Minister to declare floods in Kerala as “a national disaster”. “Dear PM, please declare #Kerala floods a National Disaster without any delay. The lives, livelihood and future of millions of our people is at stake,” Gandhi tweeted (sic). He also appealed to Congress workers to help those in need in the flood-ravaged state.
New Delhi, Aug. 18: In a much-needed respite to rain-battered Kerala, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday said the rainfall intensity in the state will reduce in the next two to three days.
Kerala is not expected to receive heavy rainfall from August 20, Mritunjay Mohapatra, IMD Additional Director General said.
He said the southern state received 170 per cent more precipitation than its normal from August 1 to August 17.
“Day before on Friday, there was heavy rainfall in almost all districts of Kerala. On Friday, there was heavy rainfall in 3-4 districts. On Saturday, we were expecting heavy rainfall in isolated places, but not very heavy rainfall.
“On Sunday, we are expecting heavy rainfall in only 1-2 districts and remaining places of the state will only witness moderate rainfall. From August 20, we are not expecting any heavy rainfall. Gradually, the rainfall intensity is decreasing,” Mohapatra said.
M. Rajeevan, secretary, ministry of Earth Sciences, said there was a low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal, but it would not have any effect on Kerala.
The southern state is facing its worst flood in 100 years with 80 dams opened and all rivers in spate.
A body blow has been dealt to the scenic state, with its infrastructure, standing crops and tourism facilities severely hit.
Meanwhile, Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, was planning to operate a ‘proving flight’ to Kochi’s naval base on Saturday to study the safety aspects of operating ATR-type aircraft from there, a spokesperson of the national carrier said.
Air India is trying to find a way to fly in and out of Kochi where the airport has been closed down till August 26 leaving thousands of passengers stranded, the spokesperson said. — PTI