Kerala floods: Death toll rises to 243; rescue, relief ops on in full swing

Kerala floods claimed 33 lives Saturday, increasing the overall death toll to 243 since 8 August when the torrential rains began in the state. More than 7.8 lakh people are in relief camps, 8000 houses have been washed away and around 26,000 are partly damaged. Many areas in Kerala continue to receive heavy downpour, hampering rescue work.Prime Minister Narendra Modi carried out an aerial survey of the Kerala floods—the worst in a century—and announced a ₹ 500 crore relief package. More help has also started pouring in. Air India’s Alliance Air will from Monday operate several flights from the Kochi naval base. Operations are suspended at the Kochi airport due to Kerala floods.The India Meteorological Department, meanwhile, said the rainfall intensity in the state will reduce in the next 2-3 days. Officials, for their part, said that all the marooned people are likely to be rescued in the next 24 hours.Some updates and developments on how the Kerala flood situation, and the rescue and relief operations, are panning out today:Andhra IAS officers to contribute a day’s salary towards Kerala flood reliefThe IAS Officers Association of Andhra Pradesh has decided to contribute one day’s salary of its members to aid relief work in the flood-hit Kerala, news agency ANI reported.
Rescue boat missing in ChengannurA rescue boat, has been missing in Pandanad area of Chenganur where heavy downpour continues to worsen the flood situation. The boat has been missing since yesterday. The number of people in the boat is yet to be ascertained.Landslides triggered by Kerala floods damaging propertyMore than 7.8 lakh people are in relief camps, 8000 houses have been washed away and around 26,000 are partly damaged in Kerala floods.

Heavy rains in Chenganur, Pathnamthitta, Aluva and AdoorHeavy downpour has been reported in areas like Chenganur, Pathnamthitta, Aluva and Adoor even after IMD’s forecast of better conditions from Sunday. A senior official on Saturday said that with many areas reeling under food and power shortage, and thousands still awaiting evacuation, the government faces an uphill task in the weeks to come.‘Anbodu Kochi’ establishes collection centres for Kerala flood relief material“Anbodu Kochi”, a team of volunteers, has established collection centres to collect relief materials for Kerala flood victims.The team has also started call centre to help victims. Around 40 people are on mobile and laptops to receive calls and communicate callers’ needs to concerned departments. “We are closely associated with district collector’s team. We take requirements of callers and cater the same to respected departments,” a member told ANI.Navy choppers load up on relief materialsRelief materials are being loaded onto Naval Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Chetak helicopter and Naval Sea King helicopter at Naval Air Station INS Garuda in Kochi. Personnel have been air dropping food and water packets to people stranded and marooned amid the flood waters.Indian Navy scales up Operation Madad for Kerala floodsThe Indian Navy has scaled up its rescue efforts—Operation Madad—which is in its 10th day. Rescue teams have been augmented by resources from Eastern and Western Naval Commands, ANI reports.Rajasthan SDRF team leaves for KeralaJaipur: A 27-member team of the Rajasthan State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has left for Kerala with 12 boats from a special aircraft of the Indian Air Force to provide relief and assistance to those affected by the Kerala floods.“We are in touch with the additional director general of police, police headquarters of Kerala. The team will be pressed into services on his instructions. The team is in a position to go to the immediate relief and assistance,” SDRF ADG B.L. Soni said, adding that the necessary equipment and materials have also been sent to provide immediate assistance to flood-affected people.The IAF aircraft has left with eight boats and 15 jawans from Jaipur and four boats and 12 jawans from Jodhpur to Kerala. The team will help the flood victims in coordination with the local authority.