Kerala grapples with 7.2L displaced in relief camps
Pope sounds global SOS to help flood-battered Kerala
The rescue operations continued in full swing on Sunday bringing more than 22,034 to safety from various parts of the flood affected areas mainly Chengannur. The death toll rose to 210.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis on Sunday appealed to the international community to provide “concrete support” to tens of thousands of flood victims in Kerala, calling the deluge a “great calamity”.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said 7.24 lakh persons have been lodged in 5,645 relief camps across the state. During the first phase the focus was on saving lives, the next big challenge is to bring the displaced people back to normal life. However, the efforts will continue to save people who are still marooned.
Pinarayi said a detailed plan has been chalked out for relief and rehabilitation. All materials required in relief camps would be provided. Specific responsibility has been entrusted with officials for relief camps. Water and food will have to be ensured for those returning home.
All water resources which got contaminated during the floods will have to be cleaned.
The most important task is to make purified and safe drinking water available. The pipelines that got snapped will be fixed. The presence of women constables will be ensured in each relief camp. The power supply which has been cut in many parts will have to be restored after taking measures to prevent mishaps.
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug. 19: Amid horrors of the torrential rains, the wedding of a woman inmate on Sunday brought cheers to a relief camp in northern Malappuram district, where thousands of people have been displaced in flood.
Twenty-four-year-old Anju, the bride, has been staying with her family at a relief camp for the last three days after her house was submerged.
Though the family had earlier thought to postpone the marriage due to the rain fury, the other inmates of the camp persuaded them to go ahead.
“Thus, we decided to conduct the wedding at a nearby temple without any celebration. The groom, Shaiju's family had also no objection,” a relative of the bride said.