Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan says the deluge has claimed over 483 lives, while 14 people still remain missing although floodwaters have receded
A delegation from Kerala, led by Rajya Sabha MP A K Antony, meets Rajnath Singh, in New Delhi on Thursday. Pic/PTI
The Kerala flood disaster has claimed 483 lives and the estimated value of destruction "is more than the annual outlay of our state", Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Thursday. Initiating the debate at a special one-day session of the Assembly to discuss the disaster, Vijayan said 14 people still remained missing although floodwaters have receded from almost all parts of the state.
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He added that at the height of the floods, the worst to hit the state in a century, there were 14.50 lakh people in more than 3,000 relief camps. "At present there are a total of 59,296 people in 305 relief camps. About 57,000 hectares of agriculture crops have been destroyed. An approximate estimate of the loss is more than the annual outlay of our state," he said.
The chief minister said the Meteorological Department gave out adequate warnings regarding the rains but the unprecedented showers led to a deluge. The predicted rains from August 9 to 15 were 98.5 mm but the state got 352.2 mm, he said. Hitting out at the government, senior Congress legislator V D Sateeshan, whose constituency Paravur was submerged, called it "a man-made tragedy".
Low-cost LPG cylinders for state
Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has approved a proposal to replace LPG cylinders, which were lost during the recent floods, at a subsidised rate, a statement from the Union Minister of State for Tourism K J Alphons' office said on Thursday.
Rajnath promises maximum support
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh promised a delegation of Kerala lawmakers "maximum support and help" to the state, which has been hit by the worst floods in a century. Former Kerala CM A K Antony said Singh gave the assurance when the delegation called on him.
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