Flood in Kerala: Only for today, an orange alert has been issued for 11 districts of Kerala.
In some respite from Kerala, red alert has been withdrawn from all the districts of Kerala. Eleven districts are on orange alert. The centre and states have pledged to contribute to Kerala flood relief. About 357 people have died and lakhs have been relocated to relief camps. On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas after reports that it had been called off due to bad weather condition in Kerala. The met office has however said that the state is not expected to receive heavy rainfall from Monday. Except for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kasaragod, a red alert has been issued for all the districts.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi asked PM Modi to declare Kerala floods a natural disaster. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who has called it the worst floods in a century in Kerala, however said the state needed at least Rs. 2,000 crore in immediate assistance. Helicopters have been dropping emergency food and water supplies across Kerala, while special trains carrying drinking water and rice have been sent to the state. A Navy airstrip will be used for passenger flights from Monday.
Here are the Highlights on Kerala Floods
Rain Lets Up In Kerala, Thousands Still Feared Trapped: 10 FactsRain has finally eased in Kerala hit by the worst floods in nearly a century that has killed more than 160 people since August 8. Over 300 people have died in the southern state this monsoon that has suffered damages over Rs 20,000 crore. Thousands of people are still feared stranded, awaiting relief and rescue.
The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) in its review meeting directed that focus should now be on provision of emergency supplies of food, water, medicines and restoration of essential services such as power, fuel, telecom and transport links as flood water recedes in Kerala, an official spokesperson said, news agency PTI reported.
In flood-hit Kerala, over 6.33 lakh people have taken shelter, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said today, news agency PTI reported. Fourteen districts have been ravaged by the worst deluge in a century.
The rainfall intensity over Kerala has decreased over the past two days, the meteorology department said today, adding that there is no alert of heavy precipitation for the next four days in the state.
India Meteorological Department said, yesterday the state recorded 9 cm of rainfall and over the past three days, there has been a gradual decrease in rainfall in the state.
On August 16 and 17, the state recorded 19 cm and 11 cm of rainfall respectively.
The IMD said it is expecting "heavy rainfall" only in Kozhikode, Kannur and Idduki districts.
Relief material for Kerala being loaded on INS Mysore at Mumbai. Pictures tweeted by ANI:
Odisha government requested the Kerala government to provide necessary support and assistance to Odia people who are trapped in the devastating floods in the rain-battered southern state.
A list of 187 people of Odisha who have been trapped in the recent floods in Kerala has been sent along with the letter.
In Palakkad, Kerala massive landslides have taken place at Nelliyampathy hill roads. Road clearing operations are underway. News agency ANI shared some pictures of the mishap.
A community kitchen has been set up at Cochin University of Science & Technology, Kalamassery by a team of 21 Navy personnel. The kitchen has provided 50000 meals over last 3 days to flood affected people, with support from students & local administration.
In Palakkad a temporary bridge is being built by Rapid Action Force in Erumachery to block flooding water. Deputy Commandant, RAF Coimbatore, says, "After dam gates were opened, overflowing water damaged roads in area & entered paddy fields. Bridge will stop the overflow."
The Jammu and Kashmir government today announced an assistance of Rs two crore for supporting the flood relief efforts in Kerala.
Goa Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar also said that he would donate a month's salary towards the relief work in flood-hit Kerala.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinaryai Vijayan urged the people of Kerala to use social media cautiously in order to stop the spread of false news of the devastation. The CMO's office tweeted:
NDMA's graph showing falling water levels, attributed to the Central Water Commission Official Flood Forecast
Indian Naval Ship Deepak disembarked rations and drinking water at Southern Navy Command today
Supreme Court Judge's Kerala Home Flooded, Brother At Relief Camp.
Read here Airlines have been advised to cap the maximum fare around Rs 10,000 for longer routes and around Rs 8,000 for shorter routes to and from Kerala and nearby airports, Suresh Prabhu tweeted.
NDRF rescues a pregnant woman from Alappad village. Two days ago, another pregnant woman was rescued by Navy choppers in Chengamanad town near Aluva. Soon after being taken to the hospital, the woman delivered a baby boy.
Read here
Roads being cleared after multiple landslides in Nelliyampathy, hill station within the Nelliyampathy Forest Reserve in Kerala
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that said that calls being received on helpline numbers are for people who have already been rescued. He added that sending erroneous information would only delay rescue efforts
Railways is transporting relief material to flood affected Kerala free of cost. Consignment, whether in rake of goods stock or parcel vans, should be booked. At all major Railway stations , contribution in kind ( materials) can be made. Banners and help desks have been set up. The contact details of Senior Divisional Commercial Managers are as follows:
Hubballi-Senthil Kumar: 97316689
Mysuru-Shri Yatish: 9731667950
Bengaluru-Shri Sridhara Murthy: 9731666950
Based upon request received from Kerala Govt. to facilitate them in air dropping of relief material, DGCA is in contact with three private helicopter operators to carry out such relief operations. These operators are currently coordinating with the State Govt. officials: Suresh Prabhu on Twitter
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is working around the clock to aid stranded/affected passengers due to flight cancellations in Cochin. More than 2771 queries have been addressed , Suresh Prabhu tweeted
Donations to Kerala can also be made through cheques/ demand drafts. Details below:
The Principal Secretary (Finance), Treasurer,
Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund,
Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram - 695001
UPI ID: keralacmdrf@sbi
A government school in Chengannur and a veterinary hospital in Idukki's Vandiperiyar converted to a relief camp
Many people in Kerala are still awaiting rescue. At Chengannur in Alapuzha district, at least 5,000 are stranded, according to revenue officials.
Naval Air Station INS Garuda at Kochi cleared for operating passenger flights from tomorrow
President Ram Nath Kovind has spoken to the governor and chief minister of Kerala. "He acknowledged the grit and resilience of the people of Kerala in coming together in this trying hour. Assured the people of the state that entire nation was with them", the official Twitter account said
West Bengal chief Mamata Banerjee will contribute Rs 10 crore to the Kerala relief effort. "My heart goes out to the people of Kerala battling. In this hour of crisis, to stand beside the flood-affected people of Kerala, we have decided to make a contribution of Rs Ten crore to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund", she tweeted.
A group of Delhi-based lawyers have started a collection drive in front of the Supreme Court to dispatch necessary supplies to Kerala. The supplies include clothes, sanitary napkins, mugs, buckets, biscuits and water bottles.
Supreme Court judges, Justice Kurain Joseph and Justice KM Joseph, also came in support of the lawyers collecting supplies at the flood relief collection point near the top court and contributed a significant amount for flood relief activities for Kerala.
The NDMA has put out emergency numbers for different districts of Kerala. There are telephone, mobile, fax and control room numbers in the list
Kerala agriculture minister V.S. Sunil Kumar that the loss that Kerala had suffered was worth more than Rs 20,000 crore. He added that a decision had been taken to study soil terrain to understand why th4e disaster happened.
People in Mumbai collect essential commodities to be sent to Kerala. The state is witnessing one of the most savage monsoons in over a century
A body was recovered by the Rapid Action Force from landslide area in Palakkad district early morning today.
Red alert has been withdrawn from all districts of Kerala today. Orange alert issued for 10 districts, yellow alert (weather conditions that do not pose an immediate threat to the general population, but only to those exposed to risk by nature of their location and/or activity) for 2 districts: ANI
The bandh of Karuvannur river in Thrissur district has been breached and a thickly populated area has been flooded. The gates of Perungalkothu dam in Pariyaram, Kerala not closing and a military team went to inspect this morning
Top Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said in an official statement that he was to see the loss of life and destruction caused by the floods in Kerala. "The tragedy is nearly unimaginable, and it is felt far beyond Kerala by countless families across the whole of India, here in the Chicago area, and throughout the world" he said.
The devastation caused by incessant rain in Kerala is frightening ! Hundreds and thousands of our sisters and brothers are in deep anguish. We must do all we can to contribute as much as we can towards the needs of the people of Kerala .. I have .. you must too, Amitabh Bachchan tweeted
Central Railways has sent over 14 litres of drinking water to Kerala by a special train. Rescue efforts are underway.
Following a directive from Congress president Rahul Gandhi to all party lawmakers from across the country, MPs and MLAs in Punjab will donate a month's salary for the relief work in flood-ravaged Kerala, a party spokesman said.
Congress and NCP legislators in Maharashtra will donate a month's salary towards the relief work in flood-ravaged Kerala, both the parties today announced. Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil,speaking to reporters after meeting party president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi
The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing its willingness to fly planes to Kerala on a "voluntary basis" in the larger interest of the affected people in the state.
"We are willing to fly the planes without payment on voluntary basis to the cause of these operations. We consider this a unique privilege that we can use to assist in such operations," the association said in the letter.
An army task force carries out rescue work at Thiruvilla, one of the worst affected place in Kerala to evacuate 250 people, many sick & homeless
"Anbodu Kochi", a team of volunteers, has established collection centres to collect relief materials for people. 40 people from the team are on phone and laptops to receive calls and communicate callers' needs to concerned departments.
You can donate to the Kerala Chief Minister Distress relief fund. Details below:
NO: 67319948232
Bank: State Bank of India
IFSC : SBIN0070028
SWIFT CODE : SBININBBT08
Relief operations by the Air Force at Chengannur. "The situation is quite bad. We are trying to rescue people. Right now we are giving them food and water so that they can at least survive till water recedes", Squadron leader V Joshi said. (ANI)
Relief materials being loaded on board at Naval Air Station INS Garuda in Kochi
Indian Railways has been supplying water in bottles, containers and tank wagons to the flood-affected areas of Kerala
240 fire service personnel were sent from Bhubaneswar to the flood-affected areas of Kerala by a special Air Force plane.
Telangana, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Maharashtra and others have announced financial help to the flood-hit state. You can also make donations for Kerala relief effort by clicking
here.
People from all over Kerala have made panic-stricken appeals on social media for help, saying they cannot make contact with rescue services. Dozens of dam and reservoir gates across the state have had to be opened as the waters reached danger levels.
State-run Air India's subsidiary - Alliance Air, will commence operations from Kochi naval base to aide the rescue operations in flood-hit Kerala. According to the airline, flight operations will commence from August 20.
Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu in a series of tweets said that due to disruption of flights from Kochi Airport, a joint team sent by the Ministry approved to commence scheduled flights by Alliance Air ATRs between Bangalore and Kochi naval air base.