Kerala floods

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Kerala floods LIVE: Death toll rises to 370, 38,000 people rescued, says Centre
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Live updates and developments on how the Kerala flood situation, and the rescue and relief operations, are panning out today

Kerala floods claimed 33 lives Saturday and at least 13 more today, increasing the overall death toll to 370. 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.

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Health ministry to airlift 60 tonnes of medicines tomorrow

The ministry of health and family welfare to airlift 60 tonnes of emergency medicines tomorrow. A special train with 14 lakh litres of water and navy ship with 8 lakh litres of water to reach Kerala by tomorrow, says Government of India.

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Assam announces ₹ 3 crore in aid for Kerala floods

Assam government will extend a financial aid of ₹ 3 crore to the flood-ravaged Kerala, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Sunday. Sonowal also directed the state revenue and disaster management department to open a helpline to extend help to the people of Assam who are trapped in the deluge and by expediting their rescue and providing relief to them. HT

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Extend all possible help to Kerala: RSS

Stating that Kerala was facing an unprecedented flood havoc that had killed hundreds of people and rendered thousands homeless, RSS joint general secretary Suresh Soni said, “The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh calls upon the people of Bharat to stand by Kerala in this period of crisis and extend all possible help to the victims.” HT

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Manipur donates ₹ 2 crore towards flood relief

“People of Manipur stand in solidarity with the people of Kerala, may you find comfort in knowing that the rest of India stand with you. The people of Manipur pray for you and extending a sum of ₹ 2 crore to relief funds from the state,” chief minister N. Biren Singh said. HT

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50,000 tonnes of food grains sent to Kerala: Centre

The department of food and public distribution has provided 50,000 tonnes of food grains to Kerala. The department of consumer affairs has made arrangements to airlift 100 tonnes of pulses by tomorrow with additional quantities to be sent by train, said the union government. ANI

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More than 38,000 people rescued from Kerala floods: Centre

More than 38,000 people rescued and evacuated from the flood-affected areas in Kerala. Medical aid has been provided to over 23,000 people. Three lakh food packets have been supplied by the food processing ministry, says the union government. ANI

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Next task to help people get back to normal life: CM

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said the biggest challenge now was to provide adequate compensation to those who had lost virtually everything they had as the swollen rivers simply washed away countless homes and left a trail of destruction. He said the next task would be to help people get back to normal life, for which a plan was being worked out. “Rehabilitation will be done by various agencies.” HT

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Pope calls on international community to help Kerala flood victims

Vatican City: Pope Francis today called on the international community to provide “concrete support” to the victims in flood-battered Kerala. Pope Francis prayed for the victims of the flooding at St Peter’s Square, the Vatican News reported.

“The inhabitants of Kerala have been harshly struck by intense rains, which have caused flooding and landslides, with heavy loss of human life, with many people missing and displaced, with extensive damage to crops and homes,” he said.

He voiced his hopes that “these brothers and sisters” would be supported by “our solidarity, and by concrete support from the international community”.

He expressed his closeness to the Church in Kerala, “which is at the forefront of efforts to bring aid to the population”. Pope Francis than led the crowds gathered at St Peter’s Square in prayer for those suffering from “this great calamity”. PTI

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Qatar extends ₹ 34.89 crore aid for flood-hit Kerala

Dubai: After the UAE, Qatar has announced a financial aid of ₹ 34.89 crore to help provide shelter to those who lost their homes to Kerala floods, a media report said today. The Qatar Charity, through its representative in India, has launched emergency relief for those affected by the huge floods with a total value of half a million riyals during the first stage, the Gulf Times reported.

Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued a directive to allocate $5 million in aid of those affected by the Kerala floods, to help provide shelter to those who lost their homes as a result of the humanitarian crisis, the daily reported.

Qatar’s aid comes a day after the UAE ordered the formation of an emergency committee to provide relief to the victims hit by the Kerala floods. PTI