Thousands still waiting to be rescued in rain-battered Kerala

Kashmir Times. Dated: 8/20/2018 9:54:04 AM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Aug 19(Agencies): Thousands of people in flood-hit areas in Kerala are battling all odds to survive as the death toll has touched 197 in the past 10 days in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8.
Many are still stranded in their homes with no food and sheaths of water around them at various places in Alapuzha, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts.
The maximum death toll has been reported from Idukki district, where 43 people have lost their lives so far, as per official estimates.
Twenty eight deaths were reported in Malappuram and 27 in Thrissur. At Chengannur in Alapuzha district, at least 5,000 are stranded, according to revenue officials. Over six lakh people are in relief camps across the state.
"This is a second birth for us. We did not have any food for the last four days and there was neck deep water all around," said a woman survivor in a relief camp at Ranni in Pathanamthitta district.
A woman at Aranmula near Alapuzha said they had not had any food or water for two days. Many people are still stranded as they prefer to be in their homes. At Paravur in Ernakulam district, six persons are said to have been killed as a portion of a church collapsed on Wednesday night.
At least 600 are stranded in the church and no help has come from any quarter so far, an angry survivor in chest deep water told a television channel. "There is no food or drinking water... no one has so far come to help us." However, there is no official confirmation about the deaths of the six persons in the church so far.
Agriculture minister V S Sunil Kumar said at least 42 villages in Kole wetlands in Thrissur were inundated after the Karivannur river changed its course following breach of a bund road.
Over 2 lakh people in Thrissur district are in relief camps, he said. In some relief, Kochi Naval airport will start operating commercial flights from tomorrow. This was due to closure of the Kochi International airport till August 26 following flooding of the runway and airport areas in the heavy rains.
The railways have cancelled at least 18 trains, partially cancelled nine and diverted today's Kanyakumari-Mumbai CST express train via Nagercoil, Tirunelveli, Madurai, Dindigul and Erode.
With several stretches across the state being destroyed, the services of the Kerala State Transport Corporation and private buses has also been affected.
Along with personnel of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the NDRF, hundreds of fishermen and local people are engaged in relief operations.
A young officer safely winched to safety a baby from a building marooned by flood waters yesterday, while at another place girl students from a hostel were rescued in a similar manner.
A 24-year-old man, who rescued his mother and siblings after their home was fully flooded, lost his life as he tripped and fell into the fast flowing waters while helping his aged father. His body was recovered yesterday. His father, who held on to a fallen tree branch, was saved from the flood water.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had undertaken an aerial survey of some of the flood affected regions yesterday and reviewed the situation. The Centre had sanctioned Rs 500 crore as immediate assistance to the state.
In the meanwhile, the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan praised the relentless efforts of numerous rescue teams, the central government and people who have sent donations to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for Kerala flood relief.
Both governments at the Centre and state said today that the focus will now shift to providing medicines, food and towards recovery as almost everyone has been rescued in the state.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis has urged followers to help the state with "concrete support" and also prayed for the affected population. Earlier, Vijayan asked people not to send 'erroneous information' as it was 'delaying rescue efforts'.
Terming the Kerala relief work one of world's largest rescue operations, Union Minister KJ Alphons said on Sunday that they have armed forces, NDRF, paramilitary forces at work to help one million people in camps and feed them. Media houses continue to be flooded with requests for rescue in affected areas. Shouldering the responsibility, News18 has launched a special initiative to help those in need.
Indian-origin businessmen based in the UAE have announced Rs 125 million donation for flood relief operations in the deluge-hit Kerala, according to a media report.
Nearly 200 people have lost their lives in Kerala since August 8 due to floods caused by rains and landslides, while over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps.
The southern Indian state is facing its worst flood in 100 years with 80 dams opened and all rivers in spate. A body blow has been dealt to the scenic State, with its infrastructure, standing crops and tourism facilities severely hit.
Kerala-born businessman Yusuff Ali MA, Chairman and MD of Lulu Group, has announced a Rs 50 million donation for rain-battered Kerala, Khaleej Times reported today.
KP Hussain, Chairman of Fathima Healthcare Group, has donated Rs 50 million. He said that Rs 10 million out of Rs 50 million will directly go to the Kerala Chief Minister’s relief fund, while the rest will be allocated for medical relief aid, the Gulf paper added.
Hussain said that his group has coordinated with the State’s health secretary to send volunteers from its medical faculty. This includes doctors and paramedics being sent to relief camps.
Other UAE-based businessmen had pledged amounts to help in flood relief operations.
India-born billionaire BR Shetty, Chairman of Unimoni and UAE Exchange, had pledged Rs 20 million.
Azad Moopen, an Indian, Founder, Chairman and MD of Aster DM Healthcare, pledged Rs 5 million. The group also announced that it had mobilised a disaster support team of over 300 volunteers.
Yesterday, the United Arab Emirates Prime Minister and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum came out in support for Kerala and ordered the formation of an emergency committee to provide relief to the victims hit by devastating rains and floods.

 

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