Red alert issued for 3 districts in Kerala

Amid massive floods in Kerala, a red alert has been issued for three districts- Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Ernakulam of the southern state for Sunday.

To help the state cope with the wide-scale destruction, Chief Ministers of various states have come forward and extended financial aid to the state. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has announced Rs 5 crores along with one month salary for relief operations.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said that he will provide the flood-hit state with rice worth around Rs 7.5 crores and cash worth Rs 3 crores. He further said that doctors, soldiers and the public of his state are ready to help Kerala.

He said, "I spoke to Kerala Chief Minister today. We've decided that a train full of rice worth around Rs 7.5 crores will leave for Kerala tomorrow. 3 crores will be provided in cash. Doctors, soldiers and even public of our state is ready to go there to help."

Massive rescue operation is underway in the state, and on Sunday, more than 300 people were rescued from the district of Chengannur, Kerala Minister G Sudhakaran said.

"Massive rescue operation is underway in Chengannur, more than 300 people have been rescued. We need engineers to help us construct makeshift bridges so that rescue operations can be a carried out in forest areas," Sudhakaran said.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an aerial survey of the state and announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh to the next kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to those critically injured.

Kerala has been facing the worst flooding in a century. The calamity has also grabbed global attention. Even the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took note of the issue and formed a committee to provide relief to the affected people.

The death toll, ever since the monsoon season began this year, has crossed 300.

(ANI)