Kerala Rains: Hundreds of thousands of people have been shifted to relief camps.
Highlights
- Thousands of soldiers are trying to provide rescue and relief to people
- The central government has pledged Rs 500 crore as immediate help
- At least 164 people have died in the flood since August 8 in Kerala
Rain eased this morning and the flood water started receding from some areas of Kerala. The red alert that was in place for days, was withdrawn and the met office said rainfall will decrease further over the next five days. Rescue efforts continued round-the-clock as thousands remained marooned on rooftops. At least 164 people died since August 8 in the worst floods in the state in a century. Authorities are now preparing to prevent any outbreak of disease among the more than 6 lakh people who are living in 3,000-plus relief camps across the state.
Here are the 10 latest developments in this big story:
Rainfall will reduce further over the next five days, the met department said. Heavy rain is likely at one or two places in Idukki, Konnur and Kozhikode districts.
The National Disaster Management Authority tweeted to say that floodwater in some areas have started receding. "Water levels show falling trend. Some hydrographs from @FFM_CWC," their tweet read.
With the airport in Kochi still flooded, the Naval air base in Kochi is ready for commercial flights to begin operation from tomorrow. Naval Air Station INS Garuda has received clearance to operate passenger planes and the Navy spokesperson tweeted to say all arrangements are in place.
Union minister JP Nadda said while no outbreak of communicable disease has been reported, health experts say "once the flood water starts receding, the environment would be conducive for epidemic prone diseases". The state has asked to check for "early warning signs of an outbreak," the health ministry said in a statement.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said repairing the havoc wreaked by the worst flood in a century will require at least Rs 2,000 crore in immediate assistance.
PM Modi, who was taken by helicopter over inundated farmland and villages, pledged Rs 500 crore in central aid and promised more helicopters, boats and other equipment needed to expand the rescue operation in the still unfolding emergency.
Hundreds of thousands converged in halls and auditoriums of schools, temples, churches, and mosques with little or no toilet facilities. Some people in the relief camps were finding it difficult to access food and water. Videos on social media showed groups of people breaking open shops to take food.
Rescue workers have yet to reach many flooded areas, some too narrow for boats to navigate.Helicopters have been dropping emergency food and water supplies. Special trains carrying drinking water and rice have been sent to the state.
The South Eastern Railway ran two special trains from Ernakulam to Bengal to evacuate stranded people this evening, a spokesman of the railways said. Tourists and migrant workers from Bengal have been stranded in Kerala due to the floods.
Over the last weeks, dozens of dam and reservoir gates across the state had to be opened as the waters reached danger levels, flooding huge stretches downstream.
(With inputs from Agencies)
(Kerala has to rebuild itself after the worst floods in over a century. Hundreds have died and lakhs are homeless. Here is how you can help.)
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