Thiruvananthapuram, August 18: The devastating floods in Kerala showed little signs of easing on Saturday, prompting the opposition to demand that relief operations be handed over to the federal defence forces.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala made the demand even as India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state to assess the flood impact first hand.
“With folded hands I appeal that the relief work be handed over to the defence forces, dropping the false pride that we can do it alone,” Chennithala said on Saturday. The Opposition leader had made a similar plea to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan earlier this week.
“This is the fourth straight day since the major havoc began and the misery in places like Chengannur, Pandalam, Ranni, Aranmula, Paravur, Angamaly, Aluva and Chalakudy is painfully severe. Instead of making statements about things like the number of life jackets and boats, it is time to inform the federal government the number of defence forces we need for the rescue and relief work”, Chennithala said.
PM announces Rs5 billion emergency funds
PM Modi, who arrived in Kerala late on Friday, was in Kochi on Saturday morning in an attempt to see some of the worst-affected places, but inclement weather prevented an aerial tour.
The PM later announced Rs5 billion (Dh263 million) in emergency funds for the state government towards relief work.
This follows a sum of Rs1 billion announced earlier this week.
The announcement was not encouraging for the state authorities, given that the preliminary estimate of the money required for the state to put the infrastructure back on track and cater to relief work, has been put at over Rs195 billion.
350,000 in relief camps
Thousands more made their way to relief camps across the state on Saturday as flooding affected more areas. By Saturday afternoon, the number of people in relief camps was estimated at over 350,000. There are now 3,026 relief camps functioning across the state.
Meanwhile the United Arabe Emirates also promised to lend a helping hand to the southern Indian state.
The number of displaced people began swelling on Friday evening when tens of thousands of people from Kuttanad, Kerala’s traditional rice bowl, began pouring into relief camps in Changanacherry in Kottayam district.
Death toll crosses 350
The death toll in the floods from August 1 alone, is estimated at more than 300. Over 1,000 houses have been completely destroyed and about 26,000 houses have suffered partial destruction. Many were unable to attend the funeral services of their family members because they were marooned, and numerous weddings slated for the weekend were postponed.
Farm sector hit
The agricultural sector in Kerala, which had been reeling under low commodity prices, has been dealt a crippling blow by the floods.
Estimates say that nearly 50,000 cattle and over 200,000 poultry have been killed in the floods. Crops across nearly 50,000 hectares are feared to have been destroyed in the rain waters.
Weather improves
The rains subsided in many districts on Saturday, easing the crisis in those areas. One of the beneficiaries was Chalakudy town near Thrissur, where thousands of people were still awaiting evacuation on Saturday morning.
However, the situation continued to be grim in Chengannur, where tens of thousands of people are still trapped in their residences. Local MLA. Saji Cherian made an earnest appeal for their rescue, stating that “a tragedy of gigantic proportion” awaits Chengannur if the rescue is not carried out quickly.
