By Matters India Reporter
Kochi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 17 in Kerala where unprecedented floods claimed more than 325 lives and stranded hundreds of thousands of people.
Hours before the premier’s arrival, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the southern Indian state’s most savage monsoon in a century has killed 324 people over the last nine days. He also issued a fresh rain alert for the battered state.
The prime minister, who landed at Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital, will visit flood-affected areas at 6:45 am on August 18 and attend a top level meeting at Kochi later in the day. Many have pleaded the premier to declare the Kerala floods a national disaster.
The floods caused by incessant rains and discharge of huge quantities of water from the states some 80 dams have displaced more than 200,000 people.
“Please help us. Airlifting people is the only option to save my people. Please send the army,” he pleaded.
Saji Cherian, legislator of Chengannur, a municipality in Alapuzha district, says more than 10,000 people in his constituency would die on August 17 night if immediately action is not taken to rescue them.
Rescue efforts have been progressing on a war footing and Vijayan said he had spoken to Modi.
“Kerala is facing its worst flood in 100 years. 80 dams opened, 324 lives lost and 223,139 people are in about 1,500 relief camps,” read a tweet from the chief minister’s Office.
Flood waters from the Periyar river and its tributaries have submerged many towns in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts. An alarming situation has developed in Alapuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Pathanamthitta districts, where waters have submerged most roads. Thousands of people are perched on trees and rooftops, waiting to be rescued. Water has started entering relief camps.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted earlier in the day: “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.”
Desperate non-resident Keralites from Australia, the US and the UK have been pleading with authorities, seeking help for their families.
The met office has said the rainfall would continue until August 18, but the intensity has lessened slightly. A tweet from the Chief Minister’s Office this morning said, “All districts apart from Kasargod are under red alert. The Meteorological Department warns that heavy rains may affect these 13 districts.”
Domestic airlines have been asked to keep a check on air fares for flights operating to and from Kerala. Telecom operators have announced free call and data services and other relief measures for a week for users in Kerala.
Hundreds of fishermen from coastal villages have joined the rescue efforts at Pathanamthitta, where helicopters are airlifting people to safer places.
Kerala is being ravaged by torrential rains since August 8, which have triggered landslides and floods. It has disrupted air, rail and road traffic in several places. Public transport has practically disappeared from most parts of the state.