Press release by BJP National General Secretary Shri Muralidhar Rao on Kerala Floods

Press release by BJP National General Secretary Shri Muralidhar Rao on Kerala Floods

The visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Kerala to take stock of the ongoing flood situation, soon after the cremation of great leader Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has boosted the morale of the people of the state. The manner in which the central government has initiated measures during the visit of the Prime Minister and before has provided relief and trust to the people.

Kerala has witnessed in the past few days the worst floods in the last 90 years, owing to unprecedented torrential rains. Most of Kerala is affected by the floods and the tremendous havoc created by it. The floods have so far taken the lives of approximately 350 people. More than 3.5 lakh people are in the relief camps and thousands of houses have been destroyed completely or partially. Public infrastructure including electricity, water supply etc have collapsed in most of the regions and hundreds of roads including highways have been damaged. Road and rail traffic have almost come to a standstill. Nedumbassery airport in Kochi is closed for over a week with water having flooded the runways and the terminal buildings. There is a serious shortage of drinking water. Agriculture and industry is severely hot and the losses are yet to be estimated. The state has never before witnessed such a disaster. The lives of hundreds are still under major threat.

The Prime Minister who took aerial survey of the disaster havoc announced an immediate relief of Rs 500 cores to the state. He has initiated various measures for rescue by deploying more forces, helicopters, boats and rescue machineries. The Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh ji had visited Kerala on August 12^th and took stock of the situation and announced the first relief of Rs.100 crores. Indian Navy and Air Force have been deployed besides NDRF to carry out rescue and relief work.

Ex-gratia of Rs.2 lakh per person has been announced to the next kin of the deceased and Rs.50,000 to those seriously injured from PM’s National Relief Funds (PMNRF). The Prime Minister has directed Insurance Companies to hold special camps for assessment & timely release of compensation to the affected families/beneficiaries under Social Security Schemes. He has directed National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to repair main national highways damaged due to floods on priority. Indian Railways will be providing free transportation of relief material for the state and sending tankers with drinking water.

BJP Kerala and likeminded organisations are fully engaged in saving the lives of people and providing relief. More than 1000 relief camps are being operated by the organisation. Food packets, medicines, clothes, milk etc are being supplied to the flood victims. BJP units of neighbouring states including Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are sending teams of doctors, other medical professionals to Kerala. Other state units of the party are sending relief materials and other basic necessities for distribution in the state.

BJP also appeals to people across the nation to collect and send relief materials to Kerala and donate to the relief funds. India’s spirit of oneness should prevail and the nation will stand united with the people of Kerala at this time of crisis.

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