Most of Kerala under water; chief minister says it’s deluge after 164 killed in floods

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Friday that all those marooned in the state’s worst floods ever would be rescued by the evening even as authorities gave a massive boost to relief and rescue operations.

“All marooned people will be saved by this evening. I am confident we can achieve this. The Centre is responding well,” Vijayan said at a press conference.

“Sixteen Army teams, 28 Navy teams, 39 NDRF teams are involved in the relief and rescue operations. The NDRF has so far rescued 4000 people,” he said. The Coast guard is involved in rescue operations in 28 places.

With most of the state under water, public transport virtually nonexistent amid widespread death and destruction, the Chief Minister acknowledged that the situation remains serious but was optimistic of overcoming it.

“The death toll since August 8 is 164..... The situation serious, it is deluge, but we will overcome it,” he said.

He also sought to allay fears after rumours began to circulate that the century-old about Mullaperiyar dam had developed cracks.

“There is no threat to any dam,” he said.

In Idukki and Wayanad rains have subsided but water level in the Periyar is rising.

Vijayan said over two lakh people are now in 1568 camps across the state but many are still stranded.

More boats and helicopters have been pressed into relief and rescue operations on Friday while the Indian Air Force and Army teams started food packet distribution among marooned people in different places.

Railways will soon run special flood relief trains with the army’s help to reach food to marooned people, a spokesperson of the Thiruvananthapuram division of the Southern Railways said Friday.

Authorities have started requisitioning bus, trucks and other big vehicles to use for relief work. Rescue teams are carrying out round-the-clock operation but many people in the state are still marooned.

With roads cut off, many areas are now facing fuel shortage and many hospitals are grappling with shortage of oxygen cylinders as the floods disrupted supplies with many towns still under water. A shortage of medicines has added to Kerala’s mounting woes.

Had a telephone conversation with Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan just now. We discussed the flood situation across the state and reviewed rescue operations.

Later this evening, I will be heading to Kerala to take stock of the unfortunate situation due to flooding. @CMOKerala

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 17, 2018

First Published: Aug 17, 2018 08:47 IST