Modi to visit flood-battered Kerala to take stock of the situations, rescue operations underway

New Delhi, Aug 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake an aerial survey of the flood-devastated parts of Kerala on Saturday to assess the Central government’s aid efforts and also the rescue operations. Modi spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the flood situation on Friday.

“Later this evening, I will be heading to Kerala to take stock of the unfortunate situation due to flooding,” Modi tweeted. Modi is expected to land in Thiruvananthapuram by 9 p.m. and will be staying at the Raj Bhavan.

The death toll in rain-battered Kerala in 10 days touched 174 on Friday as a red alert continued in 12 of the 14 districts of the state, the Kerala government said in a statement. The red alert in Kasargode and Thiruvananthapuram districts was withdrawn on Friday, it said.

The intensity of rains, although has decreased in several districts since Friday morning, flood waters from big dams in Idukki district continued to be let out.

Since August 8, 2.23 lakh people are put up in 1,568 relief camps across the state, the statement added.

Cabinet Secretary P .K. Sinha on Friday chaired a meeting with the Chief Secretaries of Kerala and Tamil Nadu through video conference.

Sinha directed various agencies, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to provide the required assistance to Kerala.

He also ordered these organisations to provide boats, helicopters, life jackets, life buoys, raincoats, gumboots, inflatable tower lights among other things.

The Centre has so far mobilised deployment of 339 motorised boats, 2,800 life jackets, 1,400 life buoys, 27 light towers and 1,000 raincoats, said a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the flood situation with Vijayan over phone and told about his impending visit to the state in the evening. (IANS)