Rajnath visits Kerala as death toll reaches 40, assures support

Union home minister Rajnath Singh who did an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas of Kerala on Sunday said the situation was unprecedented and pledged all support to the state even as the toll rose to 40.

“I conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas with the chief minister. After viewing the disaster I reached the conclusion that the situation in Kerala is very serious,” said the Home Minister. He announced an immediate relief ₹100 crore even as the state put the total loss at ₹8,316 crore. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan who accompanied the minister sought an immediate relief ₹1,220 crore.

“Kerala is facing the worst flood in over seven decades. More than half of the state is flood-hit. The whole nation is with the suffering people of the state,” Singh said. Later he attended a highlevel meeting and reviewed arrangements. He lauded all agencies involved in rescue and relief operations. He said more help will be announced after the visit of central officials.

Though torrential rains have subsided a bit red alert will continue in eight districts --Wayanad, Idukki, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode-- as weathermen predicted heavy rains for two more days. At least 55,000 people have been shifted to relief camps.

“Timely deployment of rescue teams helped save many lives,”

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