Kerala floods: Centre to send 35 more NDRF teams for relief and rescue

Heavy rainfall has worsened the flood situation in Kerala. This includes the rise in waters of the Periyar river due to heavy rains as well as the opening of shutters of all major dams including Mullaperiyar, Cheruthoni, part of Idukki reservoir, and Idamalayar, The Indian Express reports.

With the death toll reaching close to 100, the Central government has decided to send 35 more National Disaster Response Force teams to help with relief and rescue operations in flood-hit Kerala, the Express report stated.

The decision came after a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC). According to the report, initially, “the government had directed sending 12 fresh teams of the federal disaster contingency force to the state and later decided to airlift 23 more teams in order to scale up the operations.”

“The first 12 teams will reach Kerala by this evening. The rest 23 teams are being sent gradually. The teams have been equipped for assisting the state government authorities in launching quick relief, rescue, medical aid and food distribution tasks in both daytime and at night,” NDRF Director General Sanjay Kumar was quoted as saying.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court had ordered the sub-committee constituted under Section 9 of the Disaster Management Act 2005, along with NCMC to hold a meeting with authorities in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Bar and Bench reported.

The apex court has also directed the authorities to submit a National Disaster Management Plan with respect to the Mullaperiyar Dam and “make efforts to bring down the water level in the Mullaperiyar reservoir to 139 feet.”

The order was passed following a petition by a Kerala resident, Russel Roy, who, among other things, sought a direction to Tamil Nadu to manage the water level in the reservoir after it reached its maximum capacity.

Flight operations at Kochi airport have been suspended till August 26, The NewsMinute reported.

Want to help Kerala? You can make donations online to Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund here.