Thiruvananthapuram: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday provide an aid of Rs 100 crore to the flood-ravaged Kerala that has estimated its damages at Rs 8,316 crore.
Singh, who termed the situation “very serious”, made the announcement after his aerial survey of situation. Besides, he assured that the Centre would stand by the state government.
Singh wrote on Twitter, “I understand the suffering of the people of Kerala due to this unprecedented crisis. Since assessment of damages will take some time, I hereby announce immediate relief of additional Rs 100 crores.”
“In order to supplement the efforts of the state government, just before leaving for Kerala I have approved the release the second installment of Rs 80.25 crore in advance for the SDRF,” Singh added.
The Home Minister said that the Pinarayi Vijayan government has submitted a memorandum citing Rs 8,316 crore losses and sought an assistance of Rs 1,220 crore.
Vijayan issued a statement on Twitter saying, “The impact of the disaster is likely to be felt for a long time. Preliminary assessment indicate that nearly 20000 houses have been fully damaged and nearly 10000 km of state PWD roads damaged. The preliminary loss is around Rs 8316 crore.
The Union Home Minister also addressed affected people at a relief camp at Elanthikkara in Paravur Taluk in Ernakulam district in the presence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam, who arrived with him from Delhi, state Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan and senior state government officials.
Ahead of making an aerial survey of the flood situation, Singh held a brief meeting with Vijayan, the Revenue Minister, Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar, Water Resources Minister Mathew T Thomas and Chief Secretary Tom Jose at Cochin International Airport.
According to media reports, more than 60,000 people have been accommodated in relief camps set up in different areas, including in Wayand, where over 14,000 people had been sheltered.
Ten units of Army, a unit of Madras Regiment along with personnel of Navy, Air Force and NDRF are engaged in relief and rescue operation.
Kalinga AI