Kerala Floods: Centre sanctions Rs 52 crore to Kerala, flood toll hits 93

20:24 August 13

RaGa writes to PM to install warning systems in Kerala

Rahul Gandhi has written to PM suggesting installation of early warning systems, specially designed landslide/flood shelters&developing long term strategy and action plan to protect life&livelihoods of people & environment of Wayanad (Kerala) to be taken up on priority.

19:47 August 13

Centre sanctions Rs 52 crore to Kerala

The Central government has sanctioned Rs 52 crore immediate assistance to Kerala, which has been battered by rain and floods, while the state government has sanctioned three-month free ration for the victims of natural disaster.

This was announced by Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan. Medicines worth Rs 4 crore would also be sent, he added.

"I was told by the Union Minister of State for Home that when he asked the Kerala Chief Minister if he was happy with the Centre's response, Pinarayi Vijayan remarked, 'This is enough'," said Muraleedharan, who will be touring Wayanad and Malappuram on Friday.

According to the latest figures, the rain-induced death toll in Kerala has reached 93 and around 2.24 lakh people were staying at 1,243 relief camps.

Kerala Minister for Food and Civil Supplies P. Thilothaman said in the state capital on Tuesday three-month free ration would be provided to flood victims. 

"Of course, the Centre has to provide supplies. But what we have in stock will be distributed," said Thilothaman.

19:17 August 13

Floods leave nearly 91 dead

Kerala State Disaster Management Authority

Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA):91 deaths, 59 people missing and 34 injured due to flood-related incidents across the state, between 8th August to 13th August.

17:30 August 13

Flood fury kills 89 people

The death toll in the Kerala floods increased to 89 on Tuesday with an "extremely heavy rain" warning issued for three districts, even as the weather in deluge-hit Karnataka and Gujarat improved, allowing authorities to speed up rescue and relief operations.         
         
In Kerala, a red alert has been issued for Ernakulam, Idduki and Alappuzha as extremely heavy rains are expected in central areas of the state. The flood-hit northern parts are slowly limping back to normalcy, officials said.
         
Due to strengthening of low pressure in the Bay of Bengal, extremely heavy rains are expected to lash several parts of the state, Director of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Thiruvananthapuram K Santosh said.
         
The state government said the toll is likely to go up as 40 people are still missing.

16:59 August 13

Kerala Floods: CM Vijayan visits relief camp

Wayanad (Kerala): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday assured people at a relief camp in Meppadi near Wayanad that the government will stand with all those who are suffering due to rains and floods for the past six days.

He gave this assurance even as the meteorological department gave a fresh red alert in Idukki, Alappuzha and Ernakulam districts of more rains, while massive rescue operations are currently on at Puthumala at Meppadi and Kavalapara near Malappuram where 46 bodies are feared trapped under the mud.

"The state government will do everything possible to give maximum help and support to all so that they come back to normal life very quickly. Our first task is to complete the rescue operations and then we will shift our focus to extensive rehabilitation work," assured Vijayan.

The biggest rescue operations are presently going on at Kavalapara where 20 earth moving equipment are working overtime to see if they can find another 39 people who have been reported missing after the landslide swept away an area close to 100 acres.

Various teams of the Army, NDRF, fire and rescue teams of the Kerala government are engaged in the work.

"An Army official Vishnu and his family had come visiting his relatives here and is reported missing," said a local resident who managed to flee the landslide.

According to the latest figures provided by the state government, the death toll touched 93 in Kerala and around 2.52 lakh people are put up at 1,332 relief camps across the state.

The total number of people in camps has come down marginally as in some districts people have started returning to their homes.

Meanwhile, in low lying areas in Alappuzha and Ernakulam districts, which witnessed the worst ever floods last year and more heavy rains predicted in the coming two days, authorities have given directions to hundreds of people to vacate their homes and get to the nearest relief camps.

On Tuesday, more trains that were cancelled commenced operations, especially on routes in the northern part of the state.

Authorities decided to declare holidays for all educational institutions in nine out of the 14 districts in the state.