Kerala floods: CM says initial loss at Rs 195 bn, Centre offers Rs 5 bn

SBI to waive fees and charges on its services in the state; PM starts aerial survey again

Unprecedented flooding triggered by torrential rain in Kerala had inflicted a loss of about Rs 195 billion on the state’s economy, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took stock of the situation on Saturday.

At least 324 people have been killed in rain and flood-related incidents, while 223,139 sheltered in 1,500 relief camps. The casualty figure was expected to go up, sources said. 

Red alert was issued for 11 districts for Saturday. Heavy rainfall was predicted for the day in all districts except Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kasaragod, said the chief minister.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the intensity of rainfall in the state would reduce in the next two to three days. “Kerala is not expected to receive heavy rainfall from August 20,” said Mritunjay Mohapatra, additional director general, IMD. He said the state received 170 per cent more precipitation than the normal between August 1 and August 17.

The prime minister announced Rs 5 billion as immediate financial assistance, in addition to Rs 1 billion announced by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh last Sunday, after a high-level review meeting in Kochi, followed by an aerial survey of the worst-hit Aluva-Thrissur regions.  

Vijayan thanked the Centre for the financial aid, but critics slammed the PM on the social media and compared his expenses on foreign trips and advertising with the relief package for Kerala. The state had sought Rs 20 billion from the Modi government for relief and rehabilitation.  

Modi said his government was providing all possible assistance to Kerala, including food grain and medicines. He directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), NTPC, and PGCIL to cater to the basic infrastructure needs of the people in the wake of the floods.

“NDRF teams, companies of the 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,” Modi posted on Twitter.

“I salute the people of Kerala for their fighting spirit. I compliment the authorities for their efforts in this adverse situation,” he said in another tweet.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said the railways was carrying drinking water from various states to Kerala. 

Ground situation

While rain slowed down in some parts on Saturday, the situation on the ground continues to be bad due to the shortage of food, drinking water, medicines and fuel. Power cuts and interruptions in telecom communications have added to the victims’ woes. Hospitals are running out of oxygen cylinders and the fear of infections and snakes is also spreading.

Idukki MP Joice George in his SOS voice message said it was an alarming situation in his area. “There is no way to communicate with each other. It is a situation where we can’t even retrieve people’s bodies from the sand. Officials who have come for rescue operations like the NDRF and Navy are not able to reach the places affected because of poor roads. People are literally holding on to their dear life. They don’t have food to eat or clothes to wear,” said George.

Kunjamma Mathew, a 99-year-old from Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district, the epicentre of Kerala floods, said, “It is said a drowning person catches a straw. When the chopper ahead of me could not locate my family of three, I thought of losing even that straw.” 

Saji Cherian, member of the legislative assembly from Chengannur, said at least 50,000 people like Kunjamma were struggling for their lives in his constituency. 

“The umpteen calls that every journalist on ground itself are getting is a proof of the magnitude of the mishap,” said a local media journalist. 

The government has convened a meeting of mobile service providers and oil companies to ensure uninterrupted services, especially to support the rescue operations.

Over 400 petrol pumps in Thrissur, Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts were submerged, said local reports.

Power supply in many parts of the state was affected as the state electricity board switched off to avoid any accident. The board said transformers would be switched on once water receded and the damage was assessed.

Shortage of medicines was worrying the medical teams of the Government Medical College at Kalamassery, said Dr Peter Vazhayil, superintendent of the medical college. 

An official coordinating relief operations in Wayanad listed immediate requirements of various drugs and tablets, sanitary napkins, bleaching powder, among others.

All Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association (AKCDA) General Secretary Thomas Raju said of the around 20,000 pharmacies in Kerala, at least 8,000 might have been affected by the deluge.