Kerala situation very serious; says Rajnath Singh after aerial survey

Kochi/Idukki, Aug. 12 (IANS): Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday described the situation in the flood-affected areas of Kerala as “very serious” and assured the state of all possible help from the Centre.
Rajnath Singh, who arrived here on Sunday afternoon, made the statement after an aerial survey of Idukki and Ernakulam districts. He was accompanied by Union Tourism Minister K.J. Alphons and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

“The situation is very serious in Kerala. The Centre will extend all necessary support to the state in all respects,” Rajnath Singh told the inmates of a relief camp near Kochi.

Vijayan said the affected persons need not worry as the state government will do everything to ensure them relief.
“Every loss that has been suffered will be addressed, including loss of houses, other properties and crops. Once you return to your homes, you will face a lot of problems. Necessary steps will be taken to clean up your homes,” Vijayan said.

On the other hand, officials in Ernakulam and Thrissur said on Sunday that the flood situation was under control even as parts of both districts still remained submerged. The Periyar river water level had come down to enable some of the affected persons to return home, they said.

Idukki district, which recorded 90mm rainfall over 24 hours till Saturday morning, witnessed lesser rainfall at 40mm on Sunday morning, weather officials said.
Water level in Idukki dam had decreased by three feet in the past 48 hours to stand at 2,398.66 feet on Sunday even though rain was recorded at a few places in and around the dam area during the day.

The situation in the hilly district of Wayanad — which saw destruction to crops and properties — looked grim on Sunday as intermittent heavy rains pounded the area, forcing authorities to ask those lodged in relief camps to stay back due to possibilities of landslides.

Idukki district authorities said that the decision to close down all five dam floodgates, opened after a downpour, will be taken on the basis of rainfall witnessed in the coming days.

Power Minister M.M. Mani said the closing of dam sluices will be taken after detailed discussions with officials concerned.
The Army’s ‘Operation Sahyog’ continued in Kerala, with two Army columns undertaking relief and rescue operations in rain-battered areas of Aluva in Ernakulam district, and one column in Adimali in Idukki district.

A team of approximately 80 personnel of Madras Regiment from Pangode Military Station in the state capital completed a makeshift bridge in the Virinjapara-Mankulam area in Idukki district, since a concrete bridge there had been washed away in the floods.
The temporary bridge restored road connectivity to around 800 families living in the area.

Flood-hit Kerala seeks INR 8,316 cr for relief, rehabilitation

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday submitted a memorandum to the visiting Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking Rs 8,316 crore as a special package for dealing with the situation arising from unprecedented floods following heavy monsoon rains.

The central minister had earlier conducted an aerial survey of the flood ravaged Idukki and Ernakulam districts.

“As it requires more time to make a detailed assessment of the damage that has been caused, we require an immediate assistance of Rs 1,220 crore from the National Disaster Relief Fund,” said Vijayan’s memorandum.

The Chief Minister has pointed out that this round of calamity comes close on the heels of the damages that was caused due to the heavy rains last month and for that a sum of Rs 820 crore was already cleared by the central team.

The memorandum states that since Thursday till Sunday 37 people died while five others have been reported missing.