PM Narendra Modi announces Rs 500 crore assistance to flood-hit Kerala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced Rs 500 crore financial assistance for floodravaged Kerala where hundreds of people have died lakhs have been rendered homeless and property worth millions of rupees has been destroyed in one of the worst floods and torrential rain in recent historyThe Prime Minister who flew from Delhi on Friday night made an aerial assessment of the damage caused by the floods However the survey was done only in some of the affected areas due to bad weatherOverflowing rivers and a series of landslides have caused the death of 180 people as of Saturday morning with over three lakh people forced to move to some 2000 relief camps The aerial survey of the massive loss and destruction triggered by the torrential rains was initially called off due to bad weatherFollowing the cancellation Modi chaired a meeting with Governor P Sathasivam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other officials and witnessed a video presentation of the widespread destruction across the state The Prime Minister announced a financial assistance of Rs 500 crore to the state This is in addition to Rs 100 crore announced on August 12 He assured the state government that relief materials including foodgrains medicines would be provided as requested an official statement saidModi also announced an exgratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50000 to those seriously injured from the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund PMNRF Insurance companies were also directed to hold special camps for assessment and timely release of compensation to the affected families and beneficiaries under social security schemes Directions have also been issued for early clearance of claims under the Fasal Bima Yojna for farmersThe statement said villagers whose houses have been destroyed in the floods would be provided Pradhan Mantri Awas YojanaGramin houses on priority The Prime Minister complimented the state government for the efforts made in meeting the challenges of the unprecedented situation He observed that rescue of people who are still marooned remains the topmost priority the statement saidThe disaster has triggered an unprecedented rescue and relief operation led by the Army the Air Force and the Navy along with teams of National Disaster Response Force involving about 1300 personnel and 435 boats Thirty eight helicopters have been deployed apart from 20 aircraft used for ferrying resources The Army has deployed 10 columns and 10 teams of Engineering Task Force ETFs involving around 790 personnel The Navy has provided 82 teams the Coast Guard 42 along with two helicopters and two shipsFive Companies of paramilitary troops have also been deployed for rescue and relief measures Nearly 7000 persons have been rescued since August 9 and some 900 given medical assistanceAlso Read Rahul Gandhi Urges Narendra Modi To Declare Kerala Floods National DisasterCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever