Kerala floods: Death toll rises to 26 as 27,048 remain in relief camps; state announces relief package

As floodwaters gradually recede across several parts of Kerala the India Meteorological Department IMD has forecast heavy rain and strong winds over the next five days prompting the state government on Wednesday to announce an extensive relief package for flood victims along with a longterm disaster resilience programmeAddressing the media after the cabinet meeting Chief Minister VD Satheesan said 26 people have died 11 were injured and four remain missing in rainrelated incidents this yearKerala CM VD Satheesan vdsatheesan posts Key Cabinet Decisions Emergency Relief amp Rehabilitation Packages for Rain amp Flood Mitigation To support citizens affected by the recent heavy rainfall and natural calamities the Cabinet has sanctioned a comprehensive disasterhellip pictwittercomYjMOG3Mo5Zmdash Press Trust of India PTI_News August 5 2026He said 27048 people are currently staying in 462 relief camps with the government ensuring that no camp accommodates more than 150 people to improve living conditions news agency IANS reportedPreliminary assessments show that 1882 hectares of agricultural land have been damaged resulting in estimated losses of Rs 67 crore and affecting 23507 farmersThe cabinet approved a series of enhanced relief measures Families of those killed will receive Rs 8 lakh as compensation while families whose homes were inundated will be provided Rs 10000 as immediate assistance An additional Rs 10000 will be given towards funeral expensesCompensation for completely destroyed houses has been increased to Rs 12 lakh while crop compensation will be enhanced by 25 per centFloodhit traders and MSMEs to receive financial assistanceIn a first for the state small traders and shop owners affected by the floods will receive Rs 10000 eachThe cabinet also approved a special rehabilitation package for MSMEs homestays and other eligible enterprises offering soft loans of up to Rs 12 lakh Beneficiaries can either avail governmentfunded margin money covering 25 per cent of the loan amount subject to a ceiling of Rs 3 lakh or opt for a nine per cent interest subsidy for five yearsFollowing the India Meteorological Departments forecast of heavy rainfall and strong winds in parts of Kerala between Wednesday and Saturday Satheesan urged people to remain vigilant and strictly follow official advisoriesLooking beyond immediate relief the government announced a Disaster Management Resilience Programme that will use AIdriven dam management advanced climate prediction flood mapping and scientific monitoring to strengthen disaster preparednessRivers and reservoirs will also be desilted including the removal of sediment deposited after the 2018 floods to improve water flow ahead of the next monsoonThe Chief Minister said the AIbased dam management system announced in the State Budget would become a national model for disaster managementCM Satheesan announces state funeral for flood rescue volunteer RajeshThe cabinet also decided to restore damaged coastal infrastructure and formulate a new housing scheme for fishermenFurther it approved the release of the first instalment of the 202627 development fund for local bodiesSatheesan announced that Rajesh the scuba diver and veteran rescue volunteer who died during flood rescue operations would be accorded a state funeral The government will also complete and hand over a house to his familyHe further said compensation had been disbursed to the families of all 248 victims of the 2024 Thrissur flood disasterResponding to questions on the Punarjani project controversy Satheesan maintained that multiple investigations including successive Vigilance probes and an FCRArelated inquiry had found no evidence of corruption with the latest Vigilance report submitted on June 26 recommending that no further action be takenIt was I who sought a probe when this first surfaced in 2020 Two separate Vigilance probes had cleared me and both took place when I was in the opposition Satheesan saidWith IANS and PTI inputs