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Kerala Floods: PM announces financial assistance of Rs 500 cr
 
New Delhi 19 August(Agencies)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today conducted an aerial survey of the flood-hit Kerala. He saluted the people of the rain-ravaged state for their "fighting spirit" and said the nation stands firmly with the state in this hour.

The Prime Minister assured that the centre will continue to support the State Government in all its endeavors.

Torrential rains, overflowing rivers and a series of landslides in Kerala forced over three lakh people in over 2,000 relief camps.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the flood situation at a high level meeting and undertook an aerial assessment of the damages caused in the affected areas. PM Modi was accompanied by the Governor, the Chief Minister, Union Minister of State K.J. Alphons and officials.

After the review, the Prime Minister announced a financial assistance of Rs 500 crore to the State. This is in addition to Rs. 100 Cr. announced by the Home Minister. He also assured the State Government that relief materials including food-grains, medicines etc would be provided, as requested.

PM also announced ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh per person to the next kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to those seriously injured from PM's National Relief Funds.

PM has directed Insurance Companies to hold special camps for assessment & timely release of compensation to the affected families/beneficiaries under Social Security Schemes. The directions have also been issued for early clearance of claims under Fasal Bima Yojna to agriculturists.

PM has directed National Highways Authority of India to repair main national highways damaged due to floods on priority. The Central Public Sector like NTPC and PGCIL have also been directed to be available to render all possible assistance to the State Government in restoring power lines.

Villagers, whose kutcha houses have been destroyed in the devastating floods, would be provided Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin houses on priority irrespective of their priority in the Permanent Wait List of PMAY-G.

Under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme 5.5 Cr. person days have been sanctioned in the labour budget 2018-19. Any further request for incurring the person days would be considered as per the requirement projected by the State.

Under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, farmers would be provided assistance for replantation of damaged horticulture crops.

The Prime Minister complimented the State Government for the efforts made in meeting the challenges of the unprecedented situation. He observed that rescue of people who are still marooned remains the topmost priority.

-- Assistance of Rs 500 cr in addition to Rs 100 Cr announced by HM
-- Centre to provide relief materials including food-grains, medicines
-- Ex-gratia: Rs. 2 lakh/person to next kin of deceased from PMNRF
-- Ex-gratia: Rs. 50,000 to those seriously injured from PMNRF
-- Insurance Companies assess & timely release compensation to affected families
-- Insurance Companies to ensure early clearance of claims under Fasal Bima Yojna
-- NHAI to repair main national highways damaged due to floods on priority
-- NTPC & PGCIL directed to restore power lines at the earliest
-- Houses under PM Awas Yojana-Gramin houses to villagers who lost kutcha houses
-- Assistance under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
-- Assistance to farmers for replantation of damaged horticulture crops


Red alert has been sounded in 11 district of the Kerala. The state is facing its worst flood in 100 years. Never before had the State witnessed a calamity of this scale. The calamity has caused immeasurable misery and devastation. Hundreds of homes were totally destroyed and many more were damaged. For the first time in history, 80 dams have been opened.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the death toll in Kerala in the current spell of heavy rains climbed to 324 overall this monsoon season. A total of 70,085 families comprising 3,14,391 people are staying in 2094 camps.

NDRF teams today carried out rescue operations in Chengannur area of the state. NDRF's 1300 jawans and 435 boats are helping in rescue operations.
In all, 57 teams of NDRF working in different areas of the state.

Till now NDRF, Navy and Army have together rescued over seven thousand people and taken them to safer places.

As the flood situation continued to remain appalling all across Kerala, Navy deployed 18 more teams at various locations yesterday to augment the rescue operations in the state. Southern Naval Command had deployed a total of 58 rescue and diving teams with Gemini boats in multiple location but seeing the worsening situation, 18 more teams have been pressed into service. Navy is also readying 25 more rescue teams with boats for deployment on request of state government with fresh incessant rain alerts.
More than 3,000 people have been rescued by the Southern Naval Command and continuous efforts are on to bring the flood affected people to safety and also provide them essential relief supplies such as food and water.

Met department has said that the intensity of rainfall has decreased in Kerala now and there would not be extremely heavy rains anymore in the state. IMD scientist Dr. Sati Devi however said that heavy rains will continue for 2 days.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister has appealed to people to come forward to help those affected by the unprecedented floods in the state. People can make donations online to Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund through the site donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in. Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund number is 67319948232 drawn on State Bank of India.

Finance Ministry has directed LIC & PSU Gen Insurance companies to settle all claims under Pradhamantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhanmantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) on immediate basis to compensate the loss of lives

--- To Alleviate Farmers Pain Claims under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana to be settled on immediate basis through on account system.

--- 24/7 Help lines started by all PSU General Insurance companies & LI
 
 
 
 
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