As the death toll rises to 375 in flood-hit Kerala, and nearly 3.5 lakhs staying in relief camps, PM Modi lauds the rescue operations team and the people’s fighting spirit.
Modi undertook an aerial survey of flood-affected districts along with Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, governor P Sathasivam, and Union minister K J Alphons. In a series of tweets, the PM said:
I salute the people of Kerala for their fighting spirit. I compliment the authorities for their efforts in this adverse situation.
I would also like to appreciate the wide support and solidarity from people across India towards Kerala during this unprecedented situation.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 18, 2018
PM Modi has announced Rs. 500 crores as financial aid in addition to Rs 100 crore that was promised by Home Minister Rajnath Singh on August 12 and Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia per person to the kin of deceased and Rs 50,000 for seriously injured from PM relief fund.
He also assured that relief materials, including foodgrains and medicines, would be provided.
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Besides, financial and material aid, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) has decided to provide Kerala with further rescue operations personnel and inventory in a meeting.
“On the instructions of PM Modi, 67 helicopters, 24 aircraft, 548 motorboats and thousands of rescue personnel from Indian Navy, Army, Air Force, NDRF, Coast Guard, other CAPFs, have been pressed into service to rescue and evacuate people from submerged areas to relief camps and for distribution of relief materials,” a press note from the home ministry said.
NCMC review meeting also decided to restore power lines, petrol pumps, LPG, health facilities and necessary medicines, food and fodder etc.
The department of telecom has enabled intra-circle roaming which will enable subscribers of one service provider to access mobile towers of other service providers. All the operators have offered free data and SMS facility from Friday.
The PM has also directed insurance companies to hold camps for timely release of compensation to the affected families/beneficiaries under social security schemes. The directions have also been issued for early clearance of claims under Faisal Bima Yojna to agriculturists, said, officials.
NHAI has been asked to repair main national highways on priority while NTPC and PGCIL (power grid corporation of India Ltd) have been asked to help the state government in restoring power lines.
The government has also decided that villagers, whose kutcha houses have been destroyed, would be provided Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin houses irrespective of their priority in the permanent wait list of PMAY-G.
Various central ministries have organized food, water, and medicines which include 3,00,000 food packets, 6,00,000 tonnes of milk, 14,00,000 liters of drinking water and 150 potable water purification kits with a capacity of 1,00,000 liter each.
Railways offered to run a special food and medicine train from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam.
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