Mumbai: In order to help the flood-affected in Kerala, the Maharashtra government has decided to send a team of 60 doctors to the said state. The team will leave on Monday, equipped with stocks of medicines as per the requirement sent by the Kerala government, chocolate bars, protein bars and blankets. Meanwhile, city Samaritans and non-profit organisations have joined the nationwide relief efforts by collecting distilled water, food packets, medicines, clothes and sanitary pads for the victims of the Kerala floods.
More than 82,000 people in Kerala have been displaced due to the flood that has ravaged the state over the past nine days. More than 324 people have died and more than 3,14,000 people have been shifted to 2,094 relief camps.
Girish Mahajan, state medical education minister, said, “The state government is in constant touch with the Kerala government, asking the latter what they need. We are extending all medical and moral support to the Kerala government. The first batch of 60 doctors will be leaving on Monday and will stay there for about a week and take stock of the situation after which more medicos will be sent.”
Keralites in the city have formed a group called “Basin Kerala” and collected about 16 tonnes of food. The group has already sent around 8 tonnes of biscuits, rice, water and other nourishment to the state.
A senior-level corporate Danish Shaikh said, “Currently, the flood-affected are in need of distilled water, basic food, medicines and sanitary pads and it is our small efforts to collect all these and send to the victims.”
Rizwan Merchant, an advocate and Mahim and Haji Ali dargah trustee, said, “We have started collecting all the required material such as clothes, uncooked food packets, required medicines, bed spreads, blankets, mosquito repellants, and even candles as there is no electricity.”
“If anyone wants to contribute, they can give uncooked food packets, clothes, sanitary pads, diapers, medicines and ORS packets to Mahim dargah,” he said.
