Picture : The Indian Express
The whole nation is rallying behind the flood hit Kerala. The rescue and relief operations are in full swing in the flood ravaged state of Kerala . On the tenth day of Operation ‘Madad’, which was August 18, a total number of diving teams deployed was 72, which have been distributed to multiple locations.
However, there appears to some relief coming in the days ahead. The India Meteorological Department said the intensity of rainfall in the state will reduce in the next two to three days. IMD additional director general Mritunjay Mohapatra said Kerala is not expected to receive heavy rainfall from 20 August.
#OpMadad #KeralaFloods2018 #KeralaFloodRelief Deployment of Naval Relief & Rescue teams on ground as of 1000h this morning @DefenceMinIndia @SpokespersonMoD @nsitharaman @CMOKerala pic.twitter.com/tTo3RWErff
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) August 19, 2018
Eight newly inducted teams were sent out to various locations to augment those already in place. 42 teams with one Gemini boat each are deployed in Ernakulam district at various places.
One team is at Pizhala island, one at Edapally, three at Perumbavur, 16 at North Paravur, 14 at Aluva, four at Muvattupuzha and two at Kadangallur.
#OpMadad #KeralaFloods2018 #KeralaFloodRelief Food and water packets being loaded onboard naval aircraft. Ready to get airborne. @DefenceMinIndia @HQ_IDS_India @nsitharaman pic.twitter.com/FBkCT2aegu
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) August 19, 2018
The Indian Navy and NDRF have expedited rescue operations as weather department has forecast more spells at isolated areas in the state. As many as 197 people have died in the last 10 days, taking the overall toll in Kerala’s murderous monsoon season to 357.
Airlines have been requested to cap the maximum fare to around Rs 10,000 on longer routes and around Rs 8,000 on shorter routes to and from Kerala and nearby airports.
Filmmaker Priyadarshan and Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar have donated money to the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund towards the flood-ravaged Kerala.
Handed over mine and @akshaykumar s Cheque to Kerala Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund . Let’s together build back Kerala back to its glory again. No politics No religion only humanity .Lets stand together to save Kerala #KerelaFloods pic.twitter.com/XchEFEHlsQ
— priyadarshan (@priyadarshandir) August 18, 2018
Priyadarshan tweeted a photograph of himself handing over a cheque to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and urged people to unite to save the state.
Acknowledging the commendable job of the Indian Armed forces, the KJ Alphons said, “The NDRF and the para military forces are working day and night. We have close to one million people in relief camps and we need to feed them. We have the armed forces, NDRF, Paramilitary Forces at work.”
The Union Minister said that the Kerala flood rescue operation is one of the largest rescue operation in the world and the Prime Minister is in touch with the state government on a regular basis.
The state government had requested an urgent financial assistance of Rs 2,000 crore. The overall damaged caused in the state is estimated to be around Rs 20,000 crore.
