In the worst ever floods in Kerala, nearly 400 lives have been lost and one million persons evacuated to 5,645 camps so far..
AMN / WEB TEAM
Even as situation in the flood-ravaged Kerala is gradually improving, Centre says it considers the devastating floods in Kerala as a calamity of severe nature.
A Home Ministry official said, keeping in view the intensity and magnitude of the floods and landslides in Kerala, this is a calamity of a severe nature for all practical purposes.
In an affidavit before Kerala High Court on Monday, Centre said, it is treating the flood situation in the state as a Disaster of Serious Nature and has categorised the same as ‘L3 Level of Disaster’ under the National Disaster Management Guidelines.
However, even as water recedes from major areas, authorities are gearing up to deal with the possible outbreak of water-borne and air-borne diseases.
Meanwhile, Army, Navy, and NDRF teams continued their rescue and relief efforts. Army said, it will continue to be engaged in the rescue operations till the situation stabilises.
Southern Command chief Lt Gen DR Soni told media in Thiruvananthapuram that Army’s medical teams will extend the first line of relief in co-ordination with the government.
#KeralaFloods2018 #OPRAHAT 'Isn't just a job-It's a calling' @IndiaCoastGuard Committed Health Care Professional conducts Medical check-ups & distribute Medicines at the #FloodReliefCamps in #Penukara & #Otapar villages of #Chenganoor area @DefenceMinIndia @CMOKerala @MoHFW_INDIA pic.twitter.com/Axwe7uTume
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) August 21, 2018
Lt Gen said, there are inaccessible areas and army men will continue to reach out to people who need to be rescued.
Central government has decided to exempt basic customs duty and Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) for the goods imported or supplied for flood relief operations in Kerala.
Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said in a tweet that the country stands with Kerala in this hour of need. Sources said, a notification to this effect is likely to be issued today.
Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said DGCA is monitoring airfares for flights connecting Kerala.
He said the ministry as such cannot interfere with the fares but it is doing it in this time of crisis. Commercial flight operations from the naval airport at Kochi commenced on Monday.
Small aircraft are being operated from the naval airport. Relief material, including provisions, water and fuel have started arriving at the Kochi port from different parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Army, Navy, and NDRF teams continued their rescue and relief efforts. Army said, it will continue to be engaged in the rescue operations till the situation stabilises.
Southern Command chief Lt Gen DR Soni told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram that Army’s medical teams will extend the first line of relief in co-ordination with the government.
Lt Gen said, there are inaccessible areas and army men will continue to reach out to people who need to be rescued.
Commercial flight operations from the Naval airport at Kochi commenced today with the first Air India flight from Bengaluru arriving this morning. It is after 18 years that civilian flights are landing and taking off from the naval airport.
The Indian Railways said that two special trains will be run on Monday from Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam to Kolkata and that the train services are expected to be restored on all lines in Kerala by Monday evening. The Railways would also provide blankets and bedsheets to the affected people in Kerala.
In the worst ever rains and floods in Kerala in this monsoon season, nearly 400 lives have been lost and one million persons evacuated to 5,645 camps so far.