Rs 4 lakh to kin of dead; Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan urges caution as rains continue

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged the people to be more cautious as the rain is continuing in the state. The government sanctioned Rs 4 lakh as immediate assistance to the families of those who died in the landslides and floods.
Vijayan said all precautions are being taken to shift the people from the sensitive regions and sought the support of the people for this. The people should not hesitate in shifting from their homes to safer locations, he said. “People should avoid all travels between districts and should go out only in emergency situations. The prediction is that the state would receive more rain and hence people should be more cautious,” said Vijayan.
National disaster response teams have been deployed in all sensitive areas of Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappauzha, Idukki, Ernakulam and Malappuram. Army personnel were involved in relief operations launched in aid to civil administration in flood-ravaged Kottayam.
Around 40 Army personnel and flood relief equipment were deployed in Kavali, Koottickal in Kottayam. One column of Army personnel from DSC Centre, Kannur, with engineering and medical components arrived at Wayanad and commenced rescue operations. Another specialist engineering task force (ETF) under Headquarters Dakshin Bharat Area from Bengaluru arrived at Mundakayam and Koottickal. A total of three columns have been deployed by the Army.
Prime minister Narendra Modi called the chief minister and pledged all support from the Centre for the relief and rehabilitation process. The Prime Minister expressed concern over the loss of lives due to the landslide.
Meanwhile, revenue minister K Rajan said there are reports that the rains will intensify in the state from Wednesday, and steps have been taken to open more relief camps in the worst-hit districts.