Kerala floods: Death toll mounts to 37, alert sounded in various districts
Kerala floods
According to media reports, as many as 54,000 people have been displaced and are now homeless.
As many as 37people have been killed in rain, flood-related accidents across Kerala, Reuters reported on Saturday. Torrential rains prompted authorities to open floodgates of as many as 22 dams and reservoirs which further added to the misery of people living in low-lying areas.
According to media reports, as many as 54,000 people have been displaced and are now homeless.
Authorities have sounded a Red Alert for Idukki and Wayanad districts until August 14 and an Orange Alert until August 15. Kannur has been put on a Red Alert till August 13 and on an Orange alert till Aug 15.
Meanwhile, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release sufficient funds to the Kerala government.
"I request you to release sufficient funds immediately to the state government, to enable the state to respond effectively, and work towards restoring critical infrastructure," Gandhi said in his letter to Modi.
The Congress chief said the disaster has already claimed over 150 lives in the past month and the hilly and coastal districts of Idukki, Wayanad, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Kozhikode have borne extensive damage.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday made a personal contribution of Rs one lakh to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) and urged everyone to contribute generously to relief efforts.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday assured all possible assistance to the calamity-hit state. He will visit Kerala on August 12.
According to state disaster control room sources, 241 relief camps have been opened and 15,695 people have been shifted from low-lying areas.
Union Minister KJ Alphons on Thursday called it Kerala's "biggest rain in 50 years".
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the flood situation in the state as "very grim". He also noted that it was for the first time in the history of the state that 22 dams have been opened at a time.
Wayanad, Ernakulam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Kottayam and Alappuzha districts have been severely affected by the destructive deluge.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday undertook an aerial survey of flood-ravaged districts.
(With inputs from agencies)