Thiruvananthapuram | Constant rain and landslides has created a major havoc in the state of Kerala since last week resulting in death toll to reach up to 87. The Central government has launched a massive rescue operation in order to tackle the increasing flood like situation.
The government has asked the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard to mobilise additional manpower, boats and helicopters to scale up the rescue and relief operations. The state government along with additional support from Centre government has started a war scale rescue operation in worst-effected Pathanamthitta district in south Kerala.
Earlier 926 were rescued by the NDRF team to a safer place at Pathamithitta, Kozzhikode, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Alappuzha. The Indian coast guard has also mobilised ten teams to assist District Disaster Management Authority in evacuating people from the flood-affected areas. Additional coast guard have been placed at Patanamthitta, Munanbam, Aranmula, Idukki, Ferok-Calicut, and Allepy respectively whereas two relief teams each have been dispatched for Aluva and Chengannur.
Addressing the press, Chief Minister P Vijayan said, the Centre had taken steps to press into service 30 helicopters of the Air Force and Navy by evening and to keep four more as standby at the Sulur airbase. Two Coast Guard ships were already on their way to Kochi. The Armed forces would supply dried food in packets to the flood victims while the Railways would provide drinking water packets. The situation in the flood-hit areas was grim, but not alarming. However, people living on riverbanks would do well to move at least one kilometre away.
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