Kerala Floods: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh announces Rs. 100 crore additional assistance

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday announced an immediate assistance of Rs 100 crore for flood-affected Kerala. Rajnath Singh conducted an aerial survey of Idukki and Ernakulam districts along with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Minister of State K J Alphonse.

Later, he took to Twitter and announced, "The floods in Kerala have caused severe damage to crops & infrastructure. It has also caused loss of precious lives and forced thousands to take shelter in a relief camp. We are providing all possible assistance to the state. Centre to provide an additional 100 crores to Kerala."

Earlier, The death toll due to floods caused by heavy rains in Kerala rose to 37. And, there seems to be no respite soon from the incessant downpour as the IMD has forecast more rains in the coastal state for the next two days. Districts like Wayanad, Munnar, and Idukki are on red alert till August 14 while other districts are now a bit stable, as the water has started to recede in downstream areas like Ernakulam and Alappuzha. To add to the already existing woes due to the floods, landslides in scattered remote mountain areas of Idukki, Wayanad, Munnar has also surfaced as a major problem because of the heavy rains.

 "33 people have died in the floods & 6 are missing. Such a destruction has never before been witnessed in the state. The entire state has come together in these circumstances and we are ready to do whatever is necessary," said Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan.

HERE’S THE ALL INDIA WEATHER WARNING BULLETIN FOR STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY:

13 AUGUST:

• Heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places  likely over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand
• Heavy rain at isolated places likely over Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh,  East Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Sikkim, Odisha, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Coastal Karnataka and Kerala
• Rough to very rough Sea conditions are likely to prevail over along and off Maharashtra Coast. Fishermen are advised not to venture into this area.

14 AUGUST:

• Heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places, likely over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand
• Heavy rain at isolated places likely over Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh,  East Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Sikkim, Odisha, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Coastal Karnataka and Kerala
• Rough to very rough Sea conditions are likely to prevail over along and off Maharashtra Coast. Fishermen are advised not to venture into this area.