Navy donates Rs 8.92 crore to Kerala CM's relief fund

The Navy today donated Rs 8.92 crore to the Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund as a voluntary contribution from the salaries of naval personnel to help the flood-ravaged state.

Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba handed over the cheque to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here, an official release said here.

Later, Admiral Lanba told reporters that the Army, Navy and Airforce along with other central agencies and the state government had worked together as a team to rescue people stranded in heavy rains and floods in the state.

The Navy alone, through its helicopters and boats, had rescued nearly 17,000 people, he noted.

They worked together as a team, rescued people, distributed relief materials and food and set up relief camps and community kitchens in Kochi, Lanba said.

The Navy chief further said the Navy has identified two flood-hit villages in Ernakulam district to undertake rehabilitation initiatives.

Admiral Lanba had visited flood ravaged Muttinakam village in Ernakulam and reviewed the relief and rehabilitation work yesterday.

The deluge in the state, the worst in a century, had claimed 474 lives since May 29, besides causing widespread destruction.