THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Opening doors in support for Kerala, the Centre has declared the floods in the state as a calamity of “severe nature”, paving the way for national assistance in various forms, officials said. The central government has also scaled up the relief and rescue operations. More than 43,000 persons have been rescued so far, out of which around 600 people were rescued on Monday. And 12.47 lakh people are lodged in relief camps.
The state government has requested for financial assistance up to Rs. 21,000 crore to reconstruct basic infrastructure following the floods which has claimed at least 216 lives since August 8, informed State Finance Minister Thomas Issac. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday declared that the first phase of the rescue mission had reached its finality and the next phase would focus on intensifying relief and rehabilitation.
