(FASTNEWS|COLOMBO) For the first time since August 9, no red alert has been issued by the Indian Meteorological Department for any of Kerala’s 14 districts. However, the weather forecast for Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts predicted heavy rains. Kerala, however, continues to remain on edge as the death toll since August 8 has climbed to 194. Meanwhile, flight operations are set to resume from Kochi Naval Base from tomorrow giving a boost to rescue and relief operations in the flood-ravaged state.
On Saturday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in a press conference said that nearly 58,000 people. Relief camps have doubled overnight with over 6.80 lakh people being relocated. Many states and ministers have also pledged to help flood-hit Kerala. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced an additional grant of Rs 500 crore to Kerala, after holding a high-level meeting with Vijayan and conducted an aerial survey of the state. He also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh per person to the next kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured from the PM’s National Relief Fund. Vijayan also informed the PM that the state had suffered a loss of Rs 19,512 crore, on initial assessment.
