Kerala floods: 324 dead, 58 teams of NDRF launch biggest-ever operation

Kochi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday conducted aerial survey of flood-hit Kerala where 324 people have died in last nine days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced Rs 500 crore as immediate aid for Kerala, in addition to the 100 crore announced earlier. The PM has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh per person to the next kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured, from Prime Minister's  National Relief Funds (PMNRF).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister K J Alphons and other officials on Saturday morning.

The state is witnessing one of the harshest monsoons with over 2 lakh people being displaced since August 8.

The NDRF has evacuated over 10,000 people from the heavy rains and flood waters affected areas of Kerala. 

A total of 58 teams of the force have been deputed to work in Kerala out of which 55 are working on the ground. Three teams are on their way, a spokesperson for the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said.

Till now, 42 Navy, 16 Army, 28 Coast Guard were engaged in rescue operations. 

Last Sunday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had undertaken and aerial survey of the flood-ravaged state and the centre had extended a Rs 100 crore package.

Thousands of people are still perched on trees and rooftops, waiting to be rescued.

Here are the LIVE updates from Kerala:

06:45 pm: Relief material was air-dropped by the IAF in Alappuzha district's Chengannur today.

06:35 pm: Around 72 diving teams have been deployed across multiple locations in Kerala. SNC rescue teams augmented by Gemini boats, divers and other resources from both Eastern and Western Naval Commands of the India Navy are deployed.  

06:30 pm: As part of IAF's Operation Madad, air rescue has been carried out at various places of the three badly affected districts: Thrissur, Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta, in Kerala. 

Various aircraft including ALH, Sea King, Chetak and MI 17 (of IAF) rescued more than 154 people so far.

06:20 pm: Rescue operation underway by Indian Navy in flood-affected area of Chengannur.

05:55 pm: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has deployed 3 Airavat club class buses to pick more than 150 people stranded in Kerala's Thrissur, from Palghat to Mangalore. KSRTC will not charge any fare for these rides.

05:35 pm: Odisha government sent 240 fire service personnel from Bhubaneswar to Kerala today for relief and rescue operations.

(Photo: ANI/Twitter)

05:30 pm: Roads were damaged due to landslides and floods caused by heavy and incessant rainfall in Palakkad today.

05:00 pm: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan has released Rs 10 crores as assistance for the rain-battered state.

04:45 pm: Randeep Surjewala of the Congress said, "All our MPs, MLAs and MLC will donate their one month salary for flood relief in Kerala."

The Congress also plans to put a special relief committee in place. The committee will send essential items to Kerala. 

04:40 pm: With relief pouring in from across India, all BJP corporators of the Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) in Maharashtra have decided to donate their one month salary towards Kerala flood relief fund.

04:40 pm: Minister Ravindra Chavan from Maharashtra will also donate his one month's salary for the same cause. 

04:35 pm: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announces Rs 15 crore from Chief Minister Relief Fund.

04:30 pm: A statement from the Kerala Chief Minister Office read: Red Alert issued for today in 11 districts. Heavy rainfall predicted for the day in all districts except Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kasaragod.

04:25 pm: As part of relief measures, Punjab government will send 1 lakh packets of food products consisting water bottles, skimmed milk, biscuits and sugar to Kerala.

04:00 pm: Currently, 15 NDRF teams are operational in Thrissur, 13 in Pathanamthitta, 11 in Alappuzha, 5 in Ernakulam, 4 in Idukki, 3 in Malappuram and 2 each in Wayanad and Kozhikode.

(Photo: ANI/Twitter)

03:55 pm: NDRF teams have rescued 194 persons and 12 livestock. They have also managed to evacuate 10,467 persons and provided pre-hospital treatment to 159 persons.

(Photo: ANI/Twitter)

03:35 pm: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani also announced relief for Kerala. He has vowed to contribute Rs 10 crore from the Chief Minister Relief Fund.

03:25 pm: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis announces Rs 20 crore as immediate assistance from Maharashtra Government for the rain-battered state. 

01:53 pm: Special aircraft of Indian Army reaches Thiruvananthapuram with food and basic amenities for flood affected areas.

01:55 pm: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announces an aid of Rs 5 crores for flood-hit Kerala from Chief Minister Relief Fund. He has also announced that 245 fire personnel with boats will be sent to Kerala for rescue operations.

01:39 pm: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announces an aid of Rs 10 crores for flood-hit Kerala from Bihar Chief Minister Relief Fund.

01:23 pm: "PM conducted aerial survey to get first-hand knowledge about flood. Our helicopter could not go to some places due to inclement weather. He has announced Rs 500 crore and all possible help. We thanked him and demanded more helicopters and boats," Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan told the media.

12:35 pm: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has announced an aid of Rs 10 crores for flood-hit Kerala.

12:31 pm: "58 teams of NDRF are deployed in 8 affected districts, we have recused 170 people and 7000 people have been evacuated to safer places. If required more teams will be deployed," said Sanjay Kumar, DG, NDRF.

12:29 pm: "I salute the people of Kerala for their fighting spirit. I compliment the authorities for their efforts in this adverse situation. I would also like to appreciate the wide support and solidarity from people across India towards Kerala during this unprecedented situation," PM Modi tweeted.

12:24 pm: "NDRF teams, companies of BSF, CISF and RAF are deployed in the state for rescue and relief operations. The Air Force, Army, Navy and Coast Guard are assisting operations in different parts of Kerala. Rescuing those who are trapped remains the topmost priority." Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

12:23 pm: "The Central Government is ensuring that the benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, MGNREGA, various social security schemes, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture reach those affected on a priority basis in Kerala." PM Modi tweeted.

12:19 pm: "Centre is providing all possible assistance to Kerala. This includes financial assistance, providing food grains and medicines. We have asked the NHAI, NTPC, PGCIL to render all possible assistance and cater to basic infrastructure needs in the wake of the floods," PM Modi tweeted.

12:16 pm: In Kerala, I took stock of the situation arising in the wake of the devastating floods across the state. Joined a review meeting and undertook an aerial survey to assess the damage caused by flooding. The nation stands firmly with Kerala in this hour: PM Modi tweeted.

11:30 am: "The area has been completely flooded. I have lost almost everything I had. The water level is increasing with every passing hour", a resident of Kollakadavu village said.

(Photo: Twitter | ANI)

11:20 am: Congress president Rahul Gandhi requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare Kerala floods as "National Disaster".

11:19 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced Rs 500 crore as immediate aid for Kerala, in addition to the 100 crore announced earlier.

10:59 am: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister K J Alphons, Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam also undertake aerial survey along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(Photo: Twitter | ANI)

10:58 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducts an aerial survey of flood affected areas.

PM Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh per person to the next kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured, from Prime Minister's National Relief Funds (PMNRF).

10:40 am: The State Bank of India (SBI) has donated Rs 2 crore to Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) and announced waiver of fees and charges on services offered by the bank in Kerala.

10:01 am: State highway to Idukki city from Kumily is blocked due to landslide, clearance operation underway.

(Photo: Twitter | ANI)

09:49 am: In video: Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel distribute relief materials to stranded people in flood affected Palakkad's Mangalam Dam village.

09:35 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairing a meeting in Kochi with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister KJ Alphons and other officials.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewing the flood situation in Kerala at a high-level meeting. (Photo: Twitter | @PMOIndia)

09:25 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aerial survey of flood affected Kochi called-off due to bad weather: reports.

08:49 am: United Arab Emirates (UAE) to form a committee to help flood-hit areas of Kerala. President of UAE Sheikh Khalifa has instructed formation of a national emergency committee to provide assistance to the people affected in Kerala.

08:19 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Kochi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Kochi, where he will take stock of flood situation. (Photo: Twitter | @PMOIndia)

07:45 am: Here's how you can donate to the Kerala Chief Minister Distress relief fund. Details below:

NO: 67319948232

Bank: State Bank of India   

IFSC : SBIN0070028

SWIFT CODE : SBININBBT08

The chief minister's office has also released helpline numbers.

 

07:43 am: In video: Navy delivers relief material to stranded people in flooded areas of Kochi.

07:30 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves from Thiruvananthapuram for an aerial survey of flood-affected areas of Kochi.

07:25 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on his way to Kochi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves from Thiruvananthapuram for an aerial survey of flood-affected areas of Kochi. (Photo: ANI | Twitter)

07:00 am: Telecom operators had announced free calls and data, extension in bill payment due dates and other relief measures for subscribers in Kerala. "To help you stay in touch with your loved ones and remain connected, we are extending a complimentary 7 days unlimited voice & data pack to you," Jio said in a message sent to customers.

With the murderous monsoon claiming 106 lives on a single day on Thursday, the state plunged deeper into misery today with hospitals facing a shortage of oxygen and fuel stations running dry, officials said.

The deadliest deluge in close to a century has dealt a body blow to the scenic state, wrecking its tourism industry, destroying standing crops in thousands of hectares and inflicting huge damage to infrastructure.

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