Karnataka rains: CM Kumaraswamy writes to PM Modi seeking Rs 2,000 crore aid

Karnataka chief ministerHD Kumaraswamy wrote a letter to prime minister Narendra Modi on Thursday requesting him for a financial aid of Rs 2,000 crore for rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit state.

In the letter, Kumaraswamy informed that 17 people had died and about 2200 houses were damaged due to the heavy rains from August 14 to August 22. He mentioned that nearly 7,500 people have been provided shelter in 53 relief camps and more than 4,500 people were rescued in the operations.

Kumaraswamy also wrote that the damages caused by the recent floods to the infrastructure, public property and crops were estimated to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore as the final assessment of losses was not done yet.

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Elaborating on the damage to the worst-hit Kodagu district of Karnataka, the chiefminister wrote that arterial roads connecting it were completely damaged.

The Karnataka chiefminister's appeal to the Centre came hours after defenseminister Nirmala Sitharaman visited the flood-hit areas in Kodagu.

Sitharaman, on Friday, also announced financial aid of Rs 1 crore from her Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme, reports said.

On 21 August, Kumaraswamy had urged the Centre to provide Rs 100 crore relief fund for the Kodagu district.

Incessant rains have lashed Karnataka since August 14, causing landslide and flooding in the state. On August 15, a high alert was issued in five districts namely Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, and Shivamogga.