New Delhi, Aug 16: The Centre on Thursday launched massive rescue and relief operations in flood-hit Kerala, a Home Ministry official said here.
The Union Cabinet Secretary has chaired a high-level meeting on Prime Minister’s instructions in the national Capital few hours ago.
“Army, Navy, Indian Air Force, Coast Guard and National Disaster Response Force have been asked to mobilise additional manpower, boats and helicopters to scale up the rescue and relief operations”, the official said.
Additional consignments of food packets and drinking water are also being rushed to the flood-affected areas of Kerala, the official added.
The Central Water Commission Chairman will be monitoring the situation at Mullaperiyar dam in view of rising water level and continued heavy inflow.
The Indian Meteorological Department issued a red alert in the entire state of Kerala on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday and assured him of all possible help.
In the Independence Day speech on Wednesday, PM Modi also mentioned the plight of the people of the state and said “My thoughts are with families of those who lost their lives in flood”.
Terming the flood situation in Kerala following heavy rains as something never witnessed by the state since Independence, the Union Home Minister announced Rs 100 crore as an immediate Central relief.
Mr Singh, along with a central team, also made an aerial survey of badly affected areas in Idukki and Ernakulam districts, and said the rains and floods had caused “massive damage” to the farm sector and infrastructures like roads and power.
The Kerala Chief Minister earlier told that the devastation is worst since 1924.
The state government also decided to cancel the annual ‘Onam’ celebrations being organised by the state and to utilise the amount for relief measures.
UNI
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