A number of NGOs based in the financial capital of the country have come forward to extend the helping hand to flood-ravaged Kerala and launched a campaign to collect food and other items.
A number of NGOs based in the financial capital of the country have come forward to extend the helping hand to flood-ravaged Kerala and launched a campaign to collect food and other items.
The deadliest deluge in Kerala in close to a century has claimed 197 lives since August 8. More than six lakh people are in relief camps while thousands are still stranded in their homes without food.
The NGOs are extending help in the form of money and medical support.
Prime Educaton Health Learning Services (PEHL) has said that it would send a team of 20 people consisting of general physicians and paramedical staff to Idukki district.
As per official estimates, 43 people have lost their lives so far in Idukki district.
"Our team will leave on Thursday from Mumbai and will start working with our local staff in Kerala as well as government authorities in Idukki district. Our focus will be only on providing medical service, as it is highly essential in the next coming days," Tasmeen Shaikh, of PEHL said today.
Shaikh said the NGO carries its own medicines.
"We have appealed to the people to donate for our work in various ways. We do not accept any non-medical donation, as other NGOs and state authorities are working on it. Extending medical service in itself is a major task for our team," she said.
Shaikh said that more people will be sent to Kerala depending on the requirement at the ground.
"This is our fourth such medical camp, where we are extending medical support to flood affected people," Shaikh claimed.
Sayed Furqan, a senior official of the 'Sahas Foundation', said they would supply notebooks and other educational stationery to at least 10,000 students in the flood-ravaged state.
"We have also issued a statement with the bank account details of Kerala chief minister's relief fund and appealed to the people to donate the amount there itself," he said.
Furquan said the state machinery is better equipped with handling and spending money as per requirement at hand.
Nishant Bangera, founder of NGO Muse, said they have formed 12 collection centres across Mumbai where citizens can donate food, clothes and other items that would be sent to the flood-affected people.
"We have collaborated with 'anbodu kochi', a Bengaluru-based organisation that is sending relief material to Kerala," Bangera said.
He said the NGO has collected two truckloads of material which include ready-to-eat food items, toiletries, medicines and clothes.
Over 300 people have been killed in Kerala since the first spell of monsoon fury since August first week as floods and landslides triggered by incessant rain have wreaked havoc in many parts of the state.
Over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps.
There are growing fears that the number of deaths could escalate rapidly with countless people still marooned, desperate for food, drinking water and medicines.
After conducting an aerial survey of flood-hit Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday immediately announced flood relief of Rs 500 crore for the state.
"In Kerala, I took stock of the situation arising in the wake of the devastating floods across the state. Joined a review meeting and undertook an aerial survey to assess the damage caused by flooding. The nation stands firmly with Kerala in this hour," PM Modi tweeted.
Vijayan on Saturday said that attempts are being made on a war-footing to rescue those stranded at Chengannur in Pathanamthitta.
Other worst hit areas include Chalakudy in Thrissur and various parts of Ernakulam district.
PM Modi, along with Kerala Governor P Sathasivam, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Minister K J Alphons conducted an aerial survey of the areas affected by flood.
On PM Modi's instructions, 67 helicopters, 24 aircraft, 548 motorboats and thousands of rescue personnel from Indian Navy, Army, Air Force, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Coast Guard and Central Armed Police Forces, were pressed into service to rescue and evacuate people from submerged areas to relief camps. The PM also announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh per person to the next kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured from the PM's National Relief Funds. He also directed insurance companies to hold special camps for assessment and timely release of compensation to the affected families and beneficiaries under social security schemes. The directions have also been issued for early clearance of claims under Fasal Bima Yojna to agriculturists. PM Modi also directed National Highways Authority of India to repair main national highways damaged due to floods on priority.
"Villagers, whose kutcha houses have been destroyed in the devastating floods, would be provided Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin houses on priority irrespective of their priority in the Permanent Wait List of PMAY-G," the Prime Minister Office said in a statement.
Also more than 6,900 life jackets, 3,000 life buoys, 167 inflatable tower lights, 2,100 raincoats, 1,300 gumboots and 153 chain saws have been provided to state government.
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal announced that the railways would provide free transportation of relief material to the worst-hit areas in Kerala. The railways has already delivered around 2.8 lakh litre of drinking water to Kerala.
(With PTI inputs)
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