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

10:51 AM

Kerala bishop dies after falling out from a moving train 

80-year-old Thomas Mar Athanasios, head of the Chengannur Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, was standing near a door in the train when the incident took place at around 5.45 am in Pulepedi.

 

The door then suddenly sclosed and the Bishop fell out of the train.

9:44 AM

Sinna Durai, a disabled man from Pathanamthitta's Othera, saved a couple's life who was stuck in flood, says,"I heard them cry for help, at which I arranged a makeshift raft and assisted them to move to an elevated platform," reported ANI.

 

 

 

9:30 AM

IAF airlifts relief material

Indian Air Force at Nagpur yesterday airlifted relief material for flood-hit Kerala. 

 

Even citizens of Nagpur have come forward to contribute relief material. The vendors who supplied the utility materials also extended considerable discounts on the purchases made for relief material

 

8:46 AM

Kerala floods: Rs 600 crore only advance aid, clarifies Centre

The Centre yesterday clarified that Rs 600 crore released for tackling the flood situation in Kerala was only an advance assistance, and additional funds would be released from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) on assessment of the damages in the flood-hit state as per laid down procedure.

3:33 AM

 Malayalam film industry hit hard by Kerala floods; many theatres damaged

A meeting of film producers, distributors and theatre owners with the office bearers of the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce held here today decided to re-arrange the dates for releasing at least 10 films scheduled durinoffice-bearersl.

3:31 AM

 Kerala floods: Alphons asks for 'one time exception' to allow foreign aid

3:28 AM

Rs 6-bn only advance assistance, more fund to come: Centre on Kerala floods

9:18 PM

Sudden release of water from Mullaperiyar by TN led to floods: Kerala to SC

The Kerala government on Thursday told the Supreme Court that the sudden release of water from the Mullaperiyar dam by the Tamil Nadu government was one of the reasons for the massive floods in the state.

 

In an affidavit filed by the Chief Secretary, the Kerala government said that as the water level crossed 137 feet at Mullaperiyar Dam, authorities in Kerala decided to evacuate on a war footing people who lived in the dam's downstream.

7:21 PM

7:19 PM

Kerala shifts focus to epidemic control

Floods in Kerala pose a great challenge to the state health authorities as they struggle to check a possible outbreak of epidemics, a problem associated with the deluge, official sources said on Thursday.

 

Health department officials said post-floods their focus has shifted to ensuring medical attention for the injured and the people living in shelter camps, cleaning of houses and wells, distribution of medicines and cleaning materials to the affected people.

6:52 PM

Delhi HC judges to contribute for Kerala floods

Delhi High Court judges have decided to contribute for flood relief in Kerala, it was announced on Thursday.

 

Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and other judges will contribute to the Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund for the rehabilitation of those hit by the floods, a statement said.

6:13 PM

Kerala flood may lead to 20% cut in India's coffee output: Trade body

India's coffee production in 2018/19 is likely to fall by at least one-fifth from a year ago as floods in key producing states damaged the crop and delayed exports, industry officials told Reuters.

 

Some of the worst flooding in India in a century killed hundreds of people in the southern states of Kerala and Karnataka earlier this month, both of which account for more than 90 per cent of the country's total coffee production. Click here to read more

5:55 PM

Can accept foreign government aid, says 2016 disaster management plan

India may not have accepted the UAE government's offer of Rs 7 billion financial aid to flood-devastated Kerala but according to the National Disaster Management Plan of 2016 if the national government of another country offers assistance as a goodwill gesture to disaster victims, the central government may accept it.

 

"As a matter of policy, the government of India does not issue any appeal for foreign assistance in the wake of a disaster. However, if the national government of another country voluntarily offers assistance as a goodwill gesture in solidarity with the disaster victims, the central government may accept the offer," says the Plan drafted by the National Disaster Management Authority, IANS reported.

5:47 PM

Donate Rs 26 bn to Kerala if you want to reject UAE's offer: CPI to Centre

If the Centre wants to reject the Rs 7-billion offer of the UAE to Kerala for flood relief operations, it should give a Rs 26 billion interim assistance as sought by the southern state, the Communist Party of India (CPI) said on Thursday.

 

Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, the national general secretary of the CPI -- the second biggest constituent in the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala -- also accused the Centre of "standing on false prestige" on the issue of foreign aid at times of natural disasters. Click here to read more.

5:15 PM

Govt inherited policy of refusing foreign aid, says Alphons Kannanthanam

In refusing foreign aid for the rehabilitation of flood-hit Kerala, the Centre has followed a 14-year convention it "inherited" from previous governments of refusing such assistance in the face of natural calamities, Union minister Alphons Kannanthanam said on Thursday.

 

The government is under fire for refusing aid for Kerala from countries like the UAE and Thailand. Alphons said this was a policy that was followed by the current government since former prime minister Manmohan Singh had refused aid from foreign countries in 2004 during the devastating Tsunami.