Kerala hikes liquor excise to collect revenue for flood relief ## Kerala hikes liquor excise to collect revenue for flood relief

Even as Kerala grapples with its worst floods in nearly a century, Finance Minister Thomas Issac on Thursday announced a hike in excise duty on liquor to raise additional funds for relief and rehabilitation of the affected.

"Yes, there is a financial resource crunch. We shall overcome. As additional resource mobilisation to the Chief Ministers Disaster Relief Management Fund, the excise duty on liquor increased by 0.5 to 3.5 per cent for 100 days. Rs 230 crore expected as additional revenue," Issac tweeted.

The death toll due to floods has risen to 114, with more than one lakh persons living in relief camps across the state.

The Kerala government has estimated a loss of Rs 8,000 crore due to floods in the wake of heavy rains across the state.

Aug 16, 2018 10:54 PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Kerala on Saturday ## Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Kerala on Saturday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the flood ravaged Kerala on Saturday after attending the funeral of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi. Kerala has been reeling under the onslaught of the

monsoon rains which have triggered landslides and floods, claiming more than hundreds of lives since August 8.

Aug 16, 2018 10:35 PM

Trains will be running tomorrow to support rescue operations and the journey will be free.

Aug 16, 2018 9:27 PM

Death toll touches 114; armed forces mount massive rescue operation ## Death toll touches 114; armed forces mount massive rescue operation

With the death toll in the devastating floods rising to 114 in Kerala, and more than one lakh people living in relief camps across the state, the centre on Thursday deployed all three wings of the armed forces in a massive rescue operation.

Torrential rains, overflowing rivers and a series of landslides have cut off vast swathes of land in the state. The Kochi International Airport has been shut till August 26 and Southern Railway and Kochi Metro have suspended their operations.

Aug 16, 2018 9:09 PM

Cochin Naval air base gets nod for commercial operations ## Cochin Naval air base gets nod for commercial operations

The Central government on Thursday agreed to open the Cochin Naval air base for commercial operations following a request by the Kerala government, officials said.

On Wednesday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sought the permission of the Central government to allow the Naval air base for use by airlines as the Cochin International Airport would remain closed till Saturday due to floods.

According to government sources, the Centre has accepted the state government's request to allow flights to arrive at the Naval air base.

Aug 16, 2018 8:40 PM

Thousands cry out for help in Kerala as death toll rises ## Thousands cry out for help in Kerala as death toll rises

Thousands of flood-affected people in Kerala -- mostly in Pathanamthitta and parts of Ernakulam and Thrissur -- have been stranded as rescuers battle heavy rains to reach out to them even as the death toll in the unprecedented floods rose to 88 on Thursday.

Reports said hundreds of people are perched on the roofs of their houses in the worst-hit southern district of Pathanamthitta, where attempts to airlift the marooned families have failed.

Aug 16, 2018 8:38 PM

Kochi Metro Rail has resumed its operation at 4 pm today ## Kochi Metro Rail has resumed its operation at 4pm today

Aug 16, 2018 7:14 PM

The Kerala CMO's Twitter handle posted the following plea: "Abstain from spreading misinformation on whatsapp & social media networks. Many rumours & fake news are surfacing. Listen for official announcements. Follow the CMO handles in Twitter & FB; FB pages of Ministers, District Collectors, Kerala Police & Fire force."

Aug 16, 2018 6:37 PM

Indigo cancels flights operating to and from China ## Indigo cancels flights operating to and from Cochin

Indigo said that due to severe weather conditions Cochin Airport will be shut for flight operations till August 26, 2018 and flights operating to and from Cochin stands cancelled for now.

IndiGo also said in a statement that it will operate additional flights from Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore and Trivandrum effective August 17, 2018 and will ensure to provide cancellation and rescheduling waiver to passengers booked to travel from August 16 to August 26,2018.

Aug 16, 2018 5:21 PM

Coast Guard carries out rescue operations in Ernakulam##Coast Guard carries out rescue operations in Ernakulam

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Rescue operations held by Coast Guard helicopters over Ernakulam, earlier on Thursday. As many as 132 people have been rescued from Thrissur, Aluva and Perumbavoor by Coast Guard helicopters today. Earlier on Wednesday, 45 persons stranded due to incessant rains were rescued from Machilipatnam by three teams of Indian Navy deployed at Perumbavoor.

Aug 16, 2018 4:16 PM

A look at the scale of disaster in 7 flood-affected states in recent times##A look at the scale of disaster in 7 flood-affected states in recent times

Aug 16, 2018 4:12 PM

Weather update: Heavy rainfall, gusty winds up to 60kmph expected in more areas##Weather update: Heavy rainfall, gusty winds up to 60kmph expected in more areas

According to weathermen, heavy rainfall accompanied by gusty winds with speed reaching 60 kmph, is expected in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kozhikode districts, reported News 18.

Aug 16, 2018 4:09 PM

Supreme Court to hear urgent plea on Mullaperiyar Dam water level##Supreme Court to hear urgent plea on Mullaperiyar Dam water level

Supreme Court agrees to urgently hear today itself petition for disaster management plan and monitoring of Mullaperiyar Dam water level. Petition currently being heard by bench. Advocate Manoj George appearing for the petitioner, a resident of Idukki district, who raised alarm over rising water level in Dam necessitating urgent steps by Tamil Nadu to release water. Thomas Isaac, finance minister of Kerala, tweets that the flood situation in Kerala is worsening. Mass evacuations starts from many flooded areas including Kuttanad. Rescue operations to save stranded people continuing in full swing. So far the death toll crosses 250. Destroyed or damaged houses may cross 1 lakh. Focal point of flood crisis shifting to Chalakkudy river basin due to severe excess release of water from dams partly also arising from non synchronised release of dam on Tamil Nadu side. The situation in Periyar is also worsening. Much better inter state coordination required. All educational institutions in the state will be closed on Friday.

Aug 16, 2018 3:28 PM

Rail, road transport severely affected, landslide in Kodagu##Rail, road transport severely affected, landslide in Kodagu

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Rail and road transport have been severely affected. Southern railway has stopped train services in many parts of Kerala. In many places, railway stations and tracks are flooded. The train service between Angamaly and Aluva has been stopped for a while. A passenger train running between these two stations has been cancelled. Many long route trains are running late by hours. The railway has rescheduled many trains. Meanwhile, landslide occurred in Kodagu after heavy rains in the area today. 1 person injured in landslide admitted to hospital for treatment. Sasikanth Senthil, Dy Commissioner Mangaluru, has ordered to stop vehicles on NH-48(75) due to heavy rains&landslide at Shiradi Ghat. In Kochi, flood water spreads across the city in Kalamassery region. Roads damaged and water continues to flow inside the city.

Aug 16, 2018 3:10 PM

Airtel announces measures to aid customers during Kerala floods##Airtel announces measures to aid customers during Kerala floods

Airtel has announced the following measures to ensure that customers stay connected with their loved ones amid the unprecedented rains and floods in Kerala. The Telco has taken following measures to help people in these difficult times.

1. Auto approval of ‘Talk Time’ credit up to Rs. 30 for all Airtel prepaid mobile customers

2. Free 1 GB mobile data for all Airtel prepaid smart phone users (data valid for seven days)

3. Extension of bill payment dates for all Airtel postpaid and home broadband customers to ensure they have uninterrupted access to services

4. Airtel to deploy VSAT at five major relief centers in Kerala to provide free wi-fi & calling facility to people.

Airtel’s network teams and partners to continue making efforts to ensure the network is up and running despite the challenge of lack of power supply and disruption in movement of fuel supplies. Citizens at large can charge (power) their mobile phones and make free calls to their loved ones from select Airtel flagship stores* located in Thrissur, Calicut, Malappuram, Kannur, Kottayam, Trivandrum and Ernakulam.

Aug 16, 2018 3:01 PM

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