Kerala rains: PM Modi to visit flood-hit state today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kerala on Fridayevening to discuss the flood situation with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The PM said that he held a telephonic conversation with Kerala chief minister wherein he discussed the prevailing situation in the state and also the steps to reviewrescue operations.

In a tweet on Friday, he wrote, " Had a telephone conversation with Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan just now. We discussed the flood situation across the state and reviewed rescue operations.
Later this evening, I will be heading to Kerala to take stock of the unfortunate situation due to flooding. @CMOKerala".

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The Supreme Court on Thursday described Kerala's flood situation as "grave" anddirecteda high power committee to convene a meeting by Friday on the rising water level in the Mullaperiyar dam.

The apex court agreed to hear a plea seeking Centre's mediation between Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments on the release of water from the Mullaperiyar dam.

Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesdaysought Tamil Nadu's interventionto reduce the rising water level of the Mullaperiyar dam.

He requested Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami to direct authorities to release water from the dam in order to bring the water level down to 139 ft.

Responding to him Palaniswami said that there was no threat to the safety of theDam.

Palaniswami wrote to Kerala Chief Minister saying that the water in the dam was being stored at the permitted level of 142 feet as per the orders issued by the Supreme Court

Meanwhile, the death in the state due to unabated rainfall and rising level of flood water has escalatedto 94.

A red alert has been issued on Friday in all 13 districts except Kasaragod.

The Indian Coast Guard has so far rescued 1,764 people and moved 4,688 people to safer locations. Twenty four teams of the Indian Coast Guard has been deployed in the region for rescueoperations.