Ker floods: NCMC meets again, directs mobilisation of additional resources

NEW DELHI: The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), the country’s apex body to handle emergency situation, met for the second time in two days on Friday and directed to mobilise additional resources to all agencies who were engaged in rescue and relief operations in floodhit Kerala.

So far, the central government has mobilised deployment of 339 motorised boats, 2,800 life jackets, 1,400 life buoys, 27 light towers and 1,000 raincoats, an official spokesperson said here.

Further, 72 motor boats, 5,000 life jackets, 2,000 life buoys, 13 light towers and 1,000 raincoats are being deployed, 1,00,000 food packets have been distributed and arrangements are being made to supply another 1,00,000 food packets. Provision has been made for supply of milk powder as well.

The railways has provided 1,20,000 water bottles. Another 1,20,000 bottles are ready to be despatched. It is also running a special train carrying 2.9 lakh litres of drinking water that will reach Kayamkulam on Saturday.

The NCMC meeting, chaired by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, also held a video conference with the chief secretaries of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

It was decided to mobilise additional resources of all agencies including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to provide the required assistance to Kerala, the spokesperson said.

The Indian Navy has deployed 51 boats along with diving teams, 1,000 life jackets and 1,300 gumboots are being rushed to Kerala on Friday. It flew 16 sorties in last two days in rescue operations. It will airdrop 1,600 food packets on Friday.

The Coast Guard has deployed 30 boats along with rescue teams, 300 life jackets, seven life rafts and 144 life buoys.

The IAF deployed 23 helicopters and 11 transport aircraft. Some of the aircraft are People being shifted to a relief camp after they were rescued from a various flood-hit areas, in Kochi on Friday

being flown in from Yelahanka and Nagpur.

The Army pressed into service 10 columns, 10 Engineering Task Forces (ETFS), 60 boats and 100 life jackets.

The NDRF has mobilised 43 rescue teams and 163 boats along with other equipment.

The NCMC directed these organisations to provide boats, helicopters, life jackets, life buoys, raincoats, gumboots, inflatable tower lights etc.

The Kerala chief secretary requested for motorised boats to reach people marooned in flood-affected areas.