Kerala Flood Situation Worsens: Death Toll Rises To 75, PM Asks Defence Ministry To Step Up Relief Operations

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has asked the Defence Ministry to further step up relief and rescue operations in Kerala as the flood situation in the state continues to worsen. PM Modi’s order came after he discussed the current flood situation with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan following the latter’s SOS to the Centre.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said additional forces of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were being rushed to Kerala, while Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted she had instructed the Defence Secretary to immediately rush more helicopters, boats, life jackets and other rescue resources to the affected state. “There will be no delay from our side,” she tweeted.

Deccan Chronicle has reported that the situation in all 14 districts of the state was grim with the defence forces, NDRF and para-military forces pulling out all stops to help those stranded by the floods.  At least 75 persons have lost their lives in the recent bout of rains and floods that began last week.

While helicopters have begun lifting people from vulnerable areas, the southern naval command has been working round-the-clock with relief operations. All means of transport have come to a halt with operations from the Kochi airport suspended since Wednesday (15 August). Train services running through Ernakulam have been suspended, while bus services are off the road in many areas due to the floods. In addition, power supply to many parts of the state has been cut to avoid any electrocution as wires have snapped off at many places.

The problem for Kerala is that it has received 37.5 per cent additional rainfall during the current south-west monsoon from 1 June to 15 August. As per records, Kerala is witnessing such a scenario of floods for the first time in 100 years. In particular, the state has received rainfall over the last 4-5 weeks with daily rain being nearly 100 mm in some areas. More importantly, the state’s reservoirs have filled to the capacity forcing the authorities to open the floodgates at 24 dams.

Regions in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu too are facing floods as incessant rains continue to batter the areas.