The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has promised an assistance of ₹700 crore for Kerala’s reconstruction effort.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander Sheikh Mohammad Bin Syed Al Nahyan has communicated this to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.
Mr. Vijayan thanked UAE president Sheikh Khalifa bin Syed Al Nahyan, the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, and Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for the generous gesture.
The UAE government had communicated the decision to provide assistance to Kerala when Gulf-based industrialist M.A.Yusuffali called on the Crown Prince.
“For Malayalis, the Gulf was a second home and the ties between Malayalis and Gulf nations was deeply emotional. The offer of assistance reflected the concern that Gulf nations had for Kerala and Malayalis,” the Chief Minister said.
NCMC meets
The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) met for the sixth time in a row on Tuesday with Cabinet secretary P.K. Sinha in the chair to review the rescue and relief operations in the State. State Chief Secretary Tom Jose participated in the meeting via video conference and informed the NCMC members that the situation had improved considerably and that only some isolated pockets were still under water.
As many as 32 persons were still missing on Tuesday even as rescue operations to bring to safety marooned persons is almost coming to an end. The focus of the government has shifted to post-flood relief operations.
Of the 32 still missing as per the Disaster Management State Control Room, Thrissur district accounts for 20 persons, followed by seven in Idukki district, three in Wayanad district and two in Palakkad district.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel rescued 15 persons on Tuesday, including 11 from Nelliyampathy, a hill station in Palakkad district, hit by landslips and flashfloods.
Five deaths were reported on Tuesday taking the toll in the monsoon fury since August 8 to 228. Three deaths were reported from Alappuzha district and two from Idukki district. Of the 228 deaths reported, the highest of 47 death were reported from Idukki district, followed by 35 from Thrissur, 30 from Malappuram, 27 from Ernakulam, 25 from Alapuzha, 16 from Kozhikode, seven from Thiruvananthapuram and one from Kasargod.
As many as 10,28,073 persons are still in the 3,274 relief camps functioning in the 14 districts of the State.
The government has stepped up the movement of the relief materials and the cleaning drive in the flood hit areas as those staying in camps have started returning to their homes. Medical teams are also fanning out to the districts to check the outbreak of epidemics. Reports that many houses cannot be occupied immediately and need repairs has raised concerns as relief camps will have to function till all displaced persons can return to their homes.
Road, rail and air traffic has almost been restored in the State. The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has announced that flight services will resume from Cochin airport from August 26 has come as a relief to flyers.
