Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an urgent relief of Rs 500 crore for relief and rescue operations in Kerala. On Saturday, he held a high-level meeting to review the flood situation, following which he also conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas. At least 324 people have died due to rain and floods in this monsoon season.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said more than 2.23 lakh people are currently in more than 1,500 relief camps set up in different locations. However, thousands are still stranded and supply of essential commodities has been hit hard. Kerala is facing its worst floods in almost 100 years. The central government has instructed army, navy, air force, ITBP, BSF, SSB, Coast Guard and NDRF to send additional teams to Kerala and assist the state government. The Kochi airport has been shut down till August 26 as flood water continues to increase in Kerala.

HERE ARE THE TOP 10 UPDATES ON KERALA FLOODS

1) Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the relief and rescue efforts in Kerala. He also conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas..

2) The Centre has announced an immediate relief of Rs 500 crore for Kerala. The state government had requested urgent financial assistance of Rs 2,000. The overall damaged caused in the state is estimated to be around Rs 20,000 crore.

3) The Indian Meteorological department has forecast heavy to very heavy rain in the state in the next 24 hours. The department has also said that rough to very rough conditions will prevail over the Arabian Sea in this period. Fishermen have been advised against going out into the sea.

4) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the state is going through the worst floods in a century. He has appealed the Centre and the common people to come help the state by donating for the relief and rescue work.

5) On Saturday, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said the Indian Railways has supplied 2.8 lakh litre of drinking water and 1 lakh water bottles are on their way to the flood-affected state. “We are committed towards providing all possible help in this hour of need,” he said.

6) A total of 38 helicopters have been deployed for rescue and relief measures. In addition, 20 aircraft are also being used for ferrying resources. Army has deployed 10 columns and 10 teams of Engineering Task Force (ETFs) involving around 790 trained personnel’s. Navy is providing 82 teams. The Coast Guard has provided 42 teams; 2 helicopters and 2 ships. Fifty seven teams of NDRF involving about 1,300 personnel and 435 boats are deployed for search and rescue operations. Five companies of BSF, CISF and RAF’s have also been deployed.

7) The Congress has demanded that the central government should declare floods in Kerala as a national calamity.

8) The United Arab Emirates has formed a national emergency committee to provide relief assistance to people affected by rain and floods in Kerala. President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan reportedly has appealed to his countrymen to come out and donate for people in Kerala. “The people of Kerala have always been and are still part of our success story and we have a special responsibility to help them,” he was quoted as saying by newspapers in UAE.

9) On Friday, a 25-year-old woman in her advance stage of pregnancy was rescued after being airlifted in a challenging operation. The woman was then taken to a naval hospital where she gave birth to a baby boy. The mother and child are fine, the navy said in a tweet.

10) Chief ministers of Punjab, Oddisha and Delhi have announced relief assistance for Kerala. Besides this, many celebrities and common people have also come forward to donate to the chief minister’s relief fund.