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The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), the country's apex body to handle emergency situation, met for the second time in two days today and directed to mobilise additional resources to all agencies who were engaged in rescue and relief operations in flood-hit Kerala.
So far, the central government has mobilised deployment of 339 motorised boats, 2,800 life jackets, 1,400 life buoys, 27 light towers and 1,000 raincoats, an official spokesperson said here.
Further, 72 motor boats, 5,000 life jackets, 2,000 life buoys, 13 light towers and 1,000 raincoats are being deployed, 1,00,000 food packets have been distributed and arrangements are being made to supply another 1,00,000 food packets. Provision has been made for supply of milk powder as well.
The railways has provided 1,20,000 water bottles. Another 1,20,000 bottles are ready to be despatched. It is also running a special train carrying 2.9 lakh litres of drinking water that will reach Kayamkulam tomorrow.
The NCMC meeting, chaired by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, also held a video conference with the chief secretaries of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
It was decided to mobilise additional resources of all agencies including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to provide the required assistance to Kerala, the spokesperson said.
The Indian Navy has deployed 51 boats along with diving teams, 1,000 life jackets and 1,300 gumboots are being rushed to Kerala today. It flew 16 sorties in last two days in rescue operations. It will airdrop 1,600 food packets today.
The Coast Guard has deployed 30 boats along with rescue teams, 300 life jackets, seven life rafts and 144 life buoys.
The IAF deployed 23 helicopters and 11 transport aircraft. Some of the aircraft are being flown in from Yelahanka and Nagpur.
The Army pressed into service 10 columns, 10 Engineering Task Forces (ETFs), 60 boats and 100 life jackets.
The NDRF has mobilised 43 rescue teams and 163 boats along with other equipment.
The NCMC directed these organisations to provide boats, helicopters, life jackets, life buoys, raincoats, gumboots, inflatable tower lights etc.
The Kerala chief secretary requested for motorised boats to reach people marooned in flood-affected areas.
The cabinet secretary directed these organisations to mobilise additional boats and equipment, including from CAPFs such as CRPF, BSF and SSB.
Use of Naval airstrip at Kochi for use by civilian airlines has been offered to the Kerala government as the civilian airport remained closed.
The Kerala government has been advised to explore the use of V-SAT communication links in areas where telephone connectivity has been disrupted.
The cabinet secretary also directed that emergency medicines may be put on standby.
The NCMC will meet again tomorrow to review the situation.
More than 100 people died in rain-related incidents in Kerala in just one day yesterday, sources in the State Disaster Management Authority said, even as defence forces scaled up operations this morning to rescue those stranded in the worst-hit areas.
The toll for yesterday, initially put at 30, has now been revised to 106, the sources said, which takes the overall fatalities to 173 since the second spell of monsoon fury unleashed itself on August 8.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kerala this evening to take stock of the flood situation there.
1. The need for water
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Indian Navy carries bottles of water as part of the rescue operations in Kerala. The death toll in Kerala owing to floods have increased to 167, CM Pinarayi Vijayan said in a press conference on Friday morning. He said that rains have subsided in some regions, though situation continues to be grim in many parts. Vijayan confirmed that currently 2.23 lakh people have been evacuated who are staying in over 1500 relief camps across the state. - Spokesperson Navy/Twitter
2. Periyar flooded
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India residents stand on the shore as Periyar river flooded following monsoon rains at Aluva. A red alert was sounded in 13 districts of Kerala, except Kasaragod today. A read has been sounded for Ernakulam and Idukki districts for tomorrow as well. The Indian Coast Guard's rescue and relief team from Vandiperiyar has been shifted to the flood-affected Manjumala village in Kerala?s Idukki district. So far, the team has rescued 16 stranded people from the village. Food and dry ration have been distributed among them.Earlier this morning, five units of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) reached Thiruvananthapuram and were deployed for rescue operations. 35 teams are expected to reach there today. - AFP
3. Indian Army at work
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The Army pressed into service 10 columns, 10 Engineering Task Forces (ETFs), 60 boats and 100 life jackets. The Centre has launched massive rescue and relief operations in the state owing to the flood situation which is worsening by the day. Yesterday, in view of the prevailing floods situation in Kerala, a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) was held to scale up assistance and ensured continued relief and rescue operations. - Indian Army Twitter
4. Coast Guard on high alert
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Indian Coast Guard headquarter (Kerala and Mahe) has deployed 27 Rescue and Relief teams to several parts of Kerala state. Two teams are in Pathanamthitta, Seven Teams in Aluva, Five teams in Alleppey, one team in Paravur, one team in Calicut, Five teams in Chengannur,Four teams in Thrissur/Chalakuddy, One team in Nedumbassery, One in Idukki and Two teams are standby at Kochi. Each team is geared with necessary floatation devices like Gemini/ Life Rafts, Life Jackets, Life Bouys, Ropes and Rescue Materials. - Indian Coast Guard/Twitter
5. Airlift rescue
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The Indian Navy rescues a man from the floods in Kerala. The Centre has launched massive rescue and relief operations in the state owing to the flood situation which is worsening by the day. Yesterday, in view of the prevailing floods situation in Kerala, a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) was held to scale up assistance and ensured continued relief and rescue operations. - Spokesperson Navy/Twitter
6. Examing the damage
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Kerala PWD Minister G Sudhakaran in the flood affected areas. - CPIM Twitter
