KOCHI: The Centre on Sunday announced an immediate relief of additional Rs 100 crore to Kerala, which is battling an unprecedented flood situation, without waiting for an assessment of the damages caused.
Union home minister
Rajnath Singh, who made an aerial survey of the flood-affected districts
+ , appealed to all political parties, social and cultural organisations to join hands with the state government in mitigating the sufferings of the people of Kerala at this critical hour.
"I must say that the entire nation is firmly standing by the people of Kerala at this difficult hour. The Centre is closely monitoring the situation here and providing all possible assistance to Kerala. We will leave no stone unturned to mitigate this unprecedented disaster,"
Rajnath said.
Chief minister
Pinarayi Vijayan told the Union home minister that state's preliminary assessment of the damages caused by the flood was around Rs 8316 crore and requested the Union government to release Rs 1220 crore for immediate relief and rehabilitation.
Earlier today, Rajnath Singh made an aerial survey of two rain-ravaged districts of Kerala and said the situation in the state was "very serious". He assured the state government of all help from the Centre to meet the challenges posed by the unprecedented floods.
"Today we conducted an aerial survey of flood affected areas with the Chief Minister and I reached the conclusion that the situation is very serious in Kerala due to floods," Singh said.
The Union home minister also heard the grievances of people in relief camps who lost their homes.
An aerial view of Aluva town following a flash flood after heavy rain, in Kochi on Sunday, August 12, 2018. (PTI photo)
