IMD predicts more rain; PM rushes to State; SC asks TN to lower dam level
The flood fury in Kerala further worsened on Friday claiming nearly 100 lives on a single day and taking the overall death toll to 300 in the last nine days. Over 2 lakh people have been shifted to more than 1,500 relief camps in what is undoubtedly the worst flooding in 100 years.
The situation worsened on Friday as water level further rose in rivers, and hospitals reported shortage of oxygen and thousands of marooned people had to live without potable water and food.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew to Kerala to personally monitor the “grave situation”, the assessment of casualty threw up different figures. While Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claimed that 324 people died due to flood situation across the State, Home Ministry’s National Emergency Response Centre (NERC)’s figure come around 274.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert, predicting heavy rain in 13 districts of Kerala except Kasaragod and other southern States, including Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, the Railways has cancelled 17 trains between Karnataka and Kerala and diverted two trains due to heavy rain, land slips and flash floods.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday asked the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) and a sub-committee set up by Kerala to deal with the flood situation to coordinate and explore the possibility of reducing the water level at the Mullaperiyar Dam by three feet.
A Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice DY Chandrachud asked Kerala and Tamil Nadu to abide by the directions given by the NCMC on the rehabilitation of displaced people and the reduction of water level from the existing 142 feet to 139 feet at the dam.
The Bench observed that it was not an expert to deal with such severe natural calamity and was leaving to the executive to contain the crisis.
“Kerala is facing its worst flood in 100 years. 80 dams opened, 324 lives lost and 2,23,139 people are in about 1500 relief camps,” read a tweet from the Chief Minister’s Office.
Earlier in the day, Modi spoke to the Kerala CM to take stock of the flood situation. Modi tweeted, “Had a telephone conversation with Kerala CM 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.”
An alarming situation has developed in Alapuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Pathanamthitta, where roads have become completely submerged. Almost all parts of Thrissur and Chalakudy towns are under water. Water has even started entering relief camps. More boats and four choppers have been deployed in the area. Desperate for help, residents have been uploading SOS videos on social media, seeking rescue boats and relief supplies. Kerala has been facing unusually high rainfall since early August, which has led to Statewide floods taking several lives and causing severe damage. The State, battling floods and landslides, plunged deeper into crisis with hospitals facing shortage of oxygen and fuel stations running dry. Around 80 per cent of the State is without power as the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has cut supply in view of submerged roads and building. The ongoing situation led the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation to cancel 8,415 tickets. They refunded Rs 52,78,126 to the passengers from August 9 to August 17.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has announced Rs 10 crore immediate relief for the flood-ravaged Kerala.
The Women and Child Development Ministry is coordinating with the Air Force and the Kerala Government to deliver 100 metric tonnes of ready-to-eat food packets to the flood-affected children in the State. “To aid distressed children stuck in this massive calamity, I have arranged 100 MT of ready-to-eat food. Have also assured the State Government for more supplies,” Union WCD Minister Maneka Gandhi said in a tweet.
Humane Society International India, an NGO, has rescued several animals and is also providing vital medicines, shelter and food for sick and injured animals.
Meanwhile, the IAF has deployed 23 helicopters and 11 transport aircraft. Some of the aircraft are being flown in from Yelahanka (Karnataka) and Nagpur (Maharashtra). The Coast Guard has deployed 30 boats along with rescue teams, 300 life jackets, seven life rafts and 144 life buoys. The Army has pressed into service 10 columns, 10 Engineering Task Forces (ETFs), 60 boats and 100 life jackets.
Southern Naval Command has deployed a total of 58 rescue and diving teams with Gemini boats in multiple locations. Southern Railway dispatched three special trains carrying water to rain-ravaged Kerala where drinking water supply has been hit in some parts after functioning of pumping stations was disrupted in heavy rain.
Officials said domestic airlines have been asked to keep a check on air fares for flights operating to and from Kerala. Telecom operators have announced free call and data services and other relief measures for a week for users in Kerala. The Air India on Friday said its flights scheduled to depart from the Kochi airport, which has been shut down till August 26 due to floods, will operate from Thiruvananthapuram. The airline said the new schedule is for the August 18-20 period.
Meanwhile, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) met on Friday to take stock of the rescue and relief operations in the flood-affected areas in Kerala. The meeting was chaired by Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha and attended by the Chief Secretaries of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It was decided to mobilise additional resources of all agencies including Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to provide the required assistance to Kerala. Sinha has directed these organisations to provide boats, helicopters, life jackets, life buoys, raincoats, gumboots, inflatable tower lights etc. The Kerala Chief Secretary requested for motorised boats so as to reach people marooned in flood -affected areas.
According to NCMC officials, so far, the Centre has mobilised deployment of 339 motorised boats, 2,800 life jackets, 1,400 lifebuoys, 27 light towers and 1,000 raincoats. Further, 72 motor boats, 5,000 life jackets, 2,000 lifebuoys, 13 light towers and 1,000 raincoats are being deployed. 1,00,000 food packets have been distributed and arrangements are being made to supply another 1,00,000 food packets. Provision has been made for supply of milk powder as well. The Indian Navy has deployed 51 boats along with diving teams, 1,000 life jackets and 1,300 gumboots are being rushed to Kerala on Friday.
The Home Ministry’s data shows as many as 191 people have died in Uttar Pradesh, 183 people in West Bengal, 139 in Maharashtra, 52 in Gujarat, 45 in Assam and 11 in Nagaland. A total of 33 people have also been missing, 28 in Kerala and five in West Bengal, while 274 have been injured in rain-related incidents in the States. The deluge and rain have hit 26 districts in Maharashtra, 23 in Assam, 23 in West Bengal, 14 in Kerala, 13 in Uttar Pradesh, 11 in Nagaland and 10 in Gujarat.