Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala (Kerala Rains) 15 people have died and 7 people are missing due to rain-related incidents across the state, Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan said today.
Speaking at a press conference today, CM Satheesan said that the state government has set up 316 relief camps across the state and 11,018 people have been provided shelter so far.
Giving information about the deaths, the Kerala CM said that 3 deaths have been reported from Kottayam district. Among the deceased, a small child is among the deceased. Two of the three who died in Kottayam are from Poonjar assembly constituency. Many people have lost their lives due to rain in other districts of the state as well. While two died in Ernakulam, one each in Idukki and Moovattupuzha districts. 2 in Kollam, 4 in Malappuram and one in Kannur. One death has also been reported from Kozhikode.
Of the seven missing in Kerala, two are from Kollam, two from Kannur and one from Malappuram districts, CM Satheesan said. Apart from this, one person each is missing from Idukki and Moovatupuzha, the Chief Minister said.
Boats and helicopters deployed:
14 fishing boats have been deployed from Kollam to Chengannur to strengthen the rescue operation. Two helicopters from Sulur in Tamil Nadu have been kept ready in Thiruvananthapuram for aerial operations. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed in the worst-hit areas and additional forces are being called in from Arakkonam. Preparations are being made to send Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Defence Security Force (DSC) if the situation gets out of hand.
Heavy rains forecast for Kerala:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rains with gusty winds in Kerala on August 3 and August 6. The Meteorological Department has said that the wind speed may reach up to 50 kmph.
The Meteorological Department has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea on August 2 and August 3, especially in the Kerala-Karnataka-Lakshadweep coastal areas. Sea erosion is likely to increase, and the wind speed may reach up to 60 kmph in coastal areas.
The government has announced a compensation of Rs 8 lakh each to the families of the deceased and an immediate Rs 10,000 for funeral expenses. The Kerala government has said that the amount being given to families who lost their entire houses in the landslide has been increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 12 lakh.