Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reviewed the situation in flood-hit Kerala, and announced Rs 500 crore immediate assistance, saying the Centre is committed to providing all possible assistance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reviewed the situation in flood-hit Kerala, and announced Rs 500 crore immediate assistance, saying the Centre is committed to providing all possible assistance.
Expressing grief over the unfortunate deaths and damage caused to property due to floods, the prime minister observed that rescue of people who are still marooned remains the topmost priority.
In a series of tweets, the prime minister saluted the fighting spirit of people and said that the Centre is commited to provide all possible assistance.
"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," Modi said in tweets.
"The Air Force, Army, Navy and Coast Guard are assisting operations in different parts of Kerala. NDRF teams, companies of BSF, CISF and RAF are deployed in the state for rescue and relief operations. The Central Government is ensuring that the benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, MGNREGA, various social security schemes, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture reach those affected on a priority basis in Kerala," Modi said.
During his visit, Modi made an aerial assessment of the damage caused due to floods in some of the affected areas of the southern state. He was accompanied by Governor P Sathasivam, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister K J Alphons and officials during the aerial survey in the worst-hit Aluva-Thrissur regions.
After the high-level meet, Vijayan tweeted that the prime minister has sanctioned Rs 500 crore as immediate relief. "As per the initial estimate, the state has suffered a loss of Rs 19,512 crore. The actual loss can be ascertained after the water recedes in the affected areas. The state has sought an immediate assistance of Rs 2,000 crore," he said.
Modi also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh per person to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF), a Prime Minister's Office (PMO) statement said.
"The prime minister announced a financial assistance of Rs 500 crore to the state. This is in addition to Rs 100 crore announced by Home Minister Rajnath Singh on August 12," it said.
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