Kerala floods LIVE: Rahul Gandhi meets flood-affected people in Chengannur

Over 350 people have lost their lives so far and 869,000 are still in relief camps, with Kerala facing a loss of around Rs 20 billion

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Thousands rescued as rains& landslides continue to haunt Kerala

 

Thousands of people stranded in isolated buildings and rooftops in flood-hit Kerala were rescued on Saturday, even as rains and fresh landslides were reported in some places as the toll touched 194 in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8.

 

A large number of people, including senior citizens, women and children were airlifted from isolated buildings, while many others were evacuated in army boats, large fishing vessels and makeshift yachts, official sources said.

Rescuers evacuate people from a flooded area to a safer place in Aluva in the southern state of Kerala | Photo: Reuters

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Haryana announces Rs 100 million for flood-hit Kerala

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said that the state government would provide financial assistance of Rs 100 million to flood affected people and for rescue operations in Kerala.

 

He said that the people of Kerala had been facing heavy losses of life and property due to severe floods, and Haryana is with Kerala in this hour of need.

 

Punjab, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu have already announced aid for flood-ravaged Kerala.

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Chandrababu Naidu speaks to Kerala CM, promises help to rain-hit state

 

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday spoke to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan over phone about the situation in the rain-ravaged state and assured him of providing all possible help in this hour of crisis.

 

A release from the Chief Minister's Office here said Naidu expressed grief over loss of lives and destruction of property in the monsoon fury.

 

Naidu assured Kerala that his state was ready to provide all possible help to it in this hour of crisis.

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Rs 200 million worth relief materials despatched to Kerala

 

More than 20 lorries carrying relief materials worth Rs 2 million from all districts in the state was on Saturday flagged off to flood-ravaged Kerala.

 

With the Chief Minister announcing Rs 500 million financial assistance to the Kerala Chief Minister's Distress fund again, the relief materials collected from all the districts in the states were despatched, Local Administration Minister, S P Velumani, who flagged off the vehicles here said.

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Vijayan cancels US trip for treatment

 

In view of the grave situation in Kerala due to floods, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has call off his proposed trip to the US for medical treatment, an official said on Saturday.

 

Vijayan was scheduled to leave for Mayo Clinic in the USA on Sunday.

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Kerala woman refuses to abandon dogs

According to AFP report, a Kerala woman refused to leave her flooded house without her 25 dogs. The dogs were found cowering on beds in the flooded house with water rising when an animal welfare group arrived for a last-gasp rescue.

 

The woman, Sunitha, was found by rescuers in Thrissur, which has been worst hit by floods that have left at least 324 dead.

 

But she refused to leave her house unless her dogs, all strays or abandoned pets, were taken too, Ms Varma told AFP.

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