Kerala floods: 10,000 being rescued, 8 lakh sent to camps; rehabilitation a challenge

About 10,000 people are likely to be rescued by Monday in Kerala where rain-sparked floods have claimed 250 lives in the last 10 days, officials said as they scrambled to get relief supplies to most-affected areas. About 38,000 people have been rescued so far.

Kerala's top disaster management official, PH Kurian, said weather conditions had improved considerably, and expected nearly 10,000 people still stranded to be rescued by Monday.

"A total of 8,46,680 people are in 3,734 camps, and rescue operations are in last stages. Rehabilitation is our next target," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Sunday, on the worst floods the state has faced since 1924.

Thousands of rescuers continued efforts to reach people stranded on rooftops as water from swollen rivers reached the second storey of houses in some pockets.

Heavy rain in all 14 districts since August 8 has triggered floods and landslides and caused homes and bridges to collapse.

Overall, 370 people have died this monsoon in the southern state where 67 helicopters, 24 aeroplanes and 548 motorboats have been pressed into service, in one of the biggest rescue operations in India.

About 1 lakh personnel from Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and disaster response forces have scaled up their operations in Kerala where about 30 people are reported missing.

Two trains carrying about 1.5 million liters of water moved to flooded areas from the neighboring states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. One train arrived on Sunday.

Officials estimate that 16,000 kilometers of roads and 134 bridges have been damaged in the devastation. Agriculture crops in over 40,000 hectares and 1,000 houses have been destroyed.

A total loss of Rs 21,000 crore has been caused in the state that was inspected on Saturday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who announced a grant of Rs 500 crore.

The Cochin Naval Base will be opened for commercial flights from Monday. The Kochi international airport was shut from August 14 to August 26.

FLOOD OF MISERIES

13 more people died on Sunday. CM Pinarayi Vijayan said the biggest challenge also is to compensate people who have lost everything in the floods.

Rs 400/kg 
Price of green chilli in Kochi and surrounding areas as vegetable prices soared in Kerala’s worst floods since 1924.

RELIEF OP SCALED UP

Centre will airlift 60 tonnes of emergency medicines today. A train with 14L ltrs of water and a Navy ship with 8L ltrs of water will also reach Kerala today.

Cochin Naval Base to be opened for commercial flights today.

Rs 21,000 crore overall loss

38,000 people have been rescued in Kerala where 250 lives have been lost since Aug 8. 

370 overall deaths this monsoon; 30 people are reported missing.

67 helicopters, 24 aeroplanes and 548 motorboats are being used.

1 lakh from Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard NDRF on the job.

16,000 kms of roads and 134 bridges damaged. 

1,000 houses, crops in 40,000 hectares destroyed.

(With agency inputs)