*The Centre announced dispatching of NDRF teams to Kerala for rescue operations. Home Minister Rajnath Singh communicated to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan over a telephonic conversation that the Centre is rushing additional NDRF teams to Kerala. "The centre is committed to providing all possible assistance. I am in constant touch with Kerala CM," said HM Rajnath Singh.
* After the intervention by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and HM Rajnath Singh yesterday, the mounting tension between Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the rising water level in Mullaperiyar Dam and its outflow was resolved. Kerala wanted the outflow and the inflow of the water through the sluice gates of the dam to be the same.
*On the seventh day of Indian Navy’s ‘Operation Madad’, the Southern Naval Command deployed 21 rescue and diving teams with Gemini boats intensifying its rescue operations in the state. Nearly two lakh people have been living in relief camps while 14 teams of the
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), comprising 399 rescuers and 34 boats, were deployed in the state.
* National Disaster Response Force has so far evacuated 926 persons to safer place at Pathamithitta, Kozzhikode, Ernakulam, Thrissur & Alappuzha. While the death toll has reached 75.
*The public transport system has collapsed in many parts of central Kerala with the Southern Railways and Kochi Metro today suspending their operations due to floods. The Cochin International Airport has suspended all flight operations till Saturday. Authorities have diverted all incoming and outgoing flights to Thiruvananthapuram or Kozhikode.
*Tourism which is a high revenue industry in Kerala has been severely hit. According to Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) 70-80% cancellations have taken place in Idukki, Munnar, Kumarakkom, which are among the most preferred destinations by domestic and international tourists.
*The downpour also affected ‘The Champion's Boat League’ which features Kerala’s famed snake boat race called 'Chundan Vallams'.
*Another casualty of the incessant rains is the blooming of 'Neelakurinji' flower in the hills of Munnar, a once in 12 year occurrence which attracts large number of tourists. The bolossoming of the flower was also mentioned by PM Modi in his Independence Day speech yesterday.
*The loss suffered by tea, coffee, cardamom and rubber planters due to the rains has been pegged at Rs 600 crore. The estimated loss of tea plantations alone was between Rs 150 crore to Rs 200 crore. Approximately 100 acre has been lost in landslides and flooding of tea fields in Waynad.
*Over Rs.320 crore has been released by the Centre to Kerala government as calamity relief fund during 2018-19. The balance available in the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) account as on April 1, 2018 as reported by the state Accountant General Rs 348.45 crore, another home ministry said.
(With inputs from agency)
