The death toll from rain-related incidents, including floods and landslides, in Kerala has risen to 15, while seven people remain missing, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said on Monday after reviewing the monsoon situation with district collectors.
Addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister announced an enhanced relief package for families affected by the monsoon disaster, along with additional rescue and rehabilitation measures.
Under the revised assistance, families of those who lost their lives in rain-related incidents will receive Rs 8 lakh as compensation, along with Rs 10,000 as immediate assistance towards funeral expenses. Families returning to flood-hit homes from relief camps will also be provided Rs 10,000 to support cleaning and restoration work.
The government has also enhanced compensation for those who suffered severe property losses. Assistance for families that lost both their house and land in landslides has been increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 12 lakh, while financial aid for rebuilding completely destroyed houses has been raised from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh.
Satheesan also directed the Agriculture Department to submit a proposal to revise compensation for crop losses, describing the existing assistance as inadequate.
“The Agriculture Department has been asked to submit a proposal. The government has decided to increase compensation for those who have suffered crop losses, and the matter will be taken up at the next Cabinet meeting,” he said.
According to the preliminary assessment, nearly 165 hectares of agricultural land have been damaged, affecting 3,596 farmers. The figures are likely to increase after the final assessment, he added.
The Chief Minister said 11,018 people were staying in 316 relief camps across the state as of 9 a.m.
Appealing to the public not to believe rumours about water being released from reservoirs, Satheesan said storage levels in major dams remained well below capacity.
“A number of rumours are being circulated, particularly claims that water is being released from dams. There is absolutely no need for people to panic. Water levels in the major reservoirs are well below their capacity,” he said.
He said reservoir storage stood at 38.91 per cent in Idukki, 46.64 per cent in Idamalayar, 52.9 per cent in Banasura Sagar, 44.82 per cent in Kakki, 45 per cent in Kallada, 35 per cent in Malampuzha and 34 per cent in Peechi, adding that strict action would be taken against those spreading misinformation.
Reviewing the state’s disaster response, Satheesan said rescue and relief operations had been intensified in vulnerable districts.
Special arrangements have been made in Pathanamthitta, where 14 fishing boats from Kollam have been deployed for rescue operations. Two Indian Air Force helicopters have arrived in Thiruvananthapuram and are on standby for emergency deployment.
The Chief Minister said one National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has been deployed in Pathanamthitta and two teams are stationed in Kottayam, while two additional NDRF teams from Arakkonam have been requisitioned and can be deployed as required.
He added that Fire and Rescue Services and the police are actively engaged in relief operations, while food packets have been arranged for distribution across affected areas, including through aerial deployment if necessary.
Satheesan said the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) would be deployed in Alappuzha if required, while instructions had been issued to keep the Defence Security Corps (DSC) on standby for deployment in Kannur and Wayanad.
He said an emergency meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority, ministers, district collectors and senior officials reviewed the flood situation earlier in the day and that, according to district reports, the overall situation remained under control despite waterlogging persisting in parts of Pathanamthitta.
State Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph said restoration work was progressing rapidly after widespread damage to the power infrastructure.
He said 4,80,614 electricity connections were disrupted due to heavy rains, of which 92 per cent had already been restored. Around 35,118 connections remain to be restored.
The minister said 2,892 transformers were damaged, with 2,600 already repaired and re-energised after floodwaters receded. Restoration of the 1,872 damaged electricity poles is also progressing rapidly.
According to Joseph, the worst damage to the power network was reported from Pathanamthitta, followed by Kannur, particularly in the Cherupuzha area under the Sreekandapuram circle and the hilly regions of the Iritty circle.
(With inputs from ANI)
