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Kerala Floods: Centre declares deluge a 'calamity of severe nature'; Onam holidays cancelled

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Nabanita Chakorborty | Updated on: 20 Aug 2018, 07:04:40 PM
Kerala Floods LIVE: Rain abates; thousands yet to be rescued (Photo Source: PTI)

New Delhi:

The intensity of rains has just decreased in Kerala, devastated by the worst floods in nearly a century. However, the southern Indian state is still reeling under odds and horrors as thousands of people are stranded in their homes with no food and sheaths of water around them at various places, including Alapuzha, Thrissur and Ernakulam.

Over 320 people have lost their lives ever since the second spell of monsoon fury hit Kerala on August 8. The maximum deaths were reported from Idukki district, where 43 people have lost their lives so far. The monsoon fury has claimed twenty-eight lives in Malappuram and 27 in Thrissur. Over six lakh people are in relief camps across the state.

In the wake of this emergency situation in Kerala, Army personnel, along with Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the NDRF, have scaled up relief operations to evacuate the distressed all over the state. The Narendra Modi government has already sanctioned an immediate assistance of Rs 500 crore for rain-ravaged Kerala.

Here are the updates on Kerala Floods:

#06:30 PM: Kerala floods declared 'calamity of severe nature': "Keeping in view the intensity and magnitude of the floods and landslides in Kerala, this is a calamity of a severe nature for all practical purposes," Union Home Ministry said in a statement.

# 02:02 PM: Around 70 teams are present there with boats, life vests and food packets. Places, where light and helicopters can't reach my boys, have reached: General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, Lt Gen DR Soni on Kerala Floods.

# 01:37 PM: Life in Idukki gradually moves back to normal. ATM services also resume. Work in progress to re-establish connectivity and restore communication.

# 12:42 PM: Till now, 3757 medical camps have been set up in Kerala. There is a requirement of 90 different medicines and the first instalment has reached. Issued advisory for daily monitoring and surveillance. Quick response medical teams to start work as soon as the water recedes: Union Minister JP Nadda.

# 11:59 AM: Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu called a review meeting on Kerala Floods with Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh and other senior officials of Rajya Sabha and Vice President Secretariat and decided to donate a month’s salary for relief measures.

# 11:50 AM: Regional CRPF Wife’s Welfare Association in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore flagged off relief materials consisting of dry rations, clothing, medicines, sanitary items in 12 trucks with Rapid Action Force (RAF) team to Kerala's Thrissur and Chalakudy.

# 11:41 AM: Nizamuddin- Ernakulam Mangala Lakshadweep Express, Mangalore-Nagercoil Parasuram Express, Jamnagar–Tirunelveli Express and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus -Thiruvananthapuram Netravathi Express from Shoranur junction to run as per normal schedule.

# 11:33 AM: Indian Navy rescue team joined six ropes across a stream in Thrissur yesterday rescuing 109 people who were stranded on the other side after the bridge over it collapsed.

# 11:12 AM: All MPs and MLAs of Shiv Sena to contribute their one month salary to Kerala Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

# 11:09 AM:

# 11:08 AM: Passengers arrive at INS Garuda Kochi Naval Air Station as commercial flights service begins at the station due to flooding of Cochin International Airport.

# 10:58 AM: There will be no electricity in homes. Carpentry, plumbing would be gone. We need hundreds of thousands of electricians, plumbers, carpenters to rush to Kerala. We don't need clothes or food. People with technical capabilities are reqd to put life back into Kerala: KJ Alphons.

# 10:48 AM: It's a historic day as the airport is back into civil operations. Substantial work done to ensure all facilities are available and support is given for aircraft to operate. We've segregated parking bays so that unhindered operations take place: Commodore RR Iyer, CO, INS Garuda.

# 10:47 AM: Today we have close to a million people in relief camps. District collectors are working as coordinators and providing supplies. Central forces are providing amazing service to Kerala. Biggest heroes are fishermen, they came in 600 boats and are rescuing people: Union Minister KJ Alphons.

# 10:13 AM: A 'Thanks' note painted on the roof of a house in Kochi from where the Naval ALH piloted by Cdr Vijay Varma had rescued two women on August 17.

# 10:05 AM: Indian Coast Guard continues relief and rescue operations across Kerala.

# 10:02 AM: Temporary bridge being built by Rapid Action Force (RAF) in Palakkad's Erumachery to block flood water from entering paddy fields.

# 10:00 AM: Mumbai: 55 doctors from JJ Hospital, 26 doctors from Pune's Sassoon hospital and paramedical staff leave for Thiruvananthapuram in two Air India aircraft.

# 08:33 AM: Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MPs to donate their one month salary to Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund.

# 08:14 AM: First commercial flight lands at INS Garuda Kochi Naval Air Station after Cochin International Airport got affected due to floods.

# 07:25 AM:

# 07:20 AM:

# 07:18 AM: Relief materials being dropped by Indian Air Force (IAF) in various locations of Ernakulam and Thrissur districts.

# 07:15 AM: People belonging to Sikh community in Kochi prepared food and provided it to relief camps in Kerala.

# 07:05 AM: Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Mahmood Ali on Sunday announced that he will donate his one month salary to Kerala Floods relief.

# 07:00 AM: A woman was rescued with the help of locals from flood-affected Alappuzha district's Chengannur.

# 06:52 AM: Chandra, a resident of Vandiperiyar in Idukki district and a tailor by profession, lost his house in the floods.

# 06:48 AM: People performed special 'havan' in Kanpur for the people affected due to flood in Kerala, earlier on Sunday.

# 06:45 AM: Locals in Palakkad's Alathur village are reconstructing the main road near Venganoor bridge, washed due to rain, by contributing money.

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First Published : 20 Aug 2018, 07:15:23 AM

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