Diageo donates Rs 1 crore to flood-hit Kerala ## Diageo donates Rs 1 crore to flood-hit Kerala

Leading liquor major Diageo India donated Rs 1 crore to the Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund, the company said on Monday.

"Our officials met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and donated the fund for the massive flood relief work underway across the coastal state," said the Indian arm of the British beverage firm.

Reiterating its community support during difficult situations, the city-based company's Chief Operating Officer Mathew Xavier offered to provide additional help to the affected state.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Kerala in this difficult time. Our contribution is a step towards re-building the state," said Xavier.

The company had supported relief efforts after natural calamities in the country, including the December 2015 floods in Chennai.

"The unprecedented rains and floods have wreaked havoc in the state, claimed hundreds of lives and damaged property and crops, making it one of the worst disasters in the country," the statement said.

Aug 20, 2018 10:23 PM

Rains abate, flood waters recede as relief pours into Kerala ## Rains abate, flood waters recede as relief pours into Kerala

With the rains that battered Kerala for a week finally abating on Monday, water levels dropped in the swollen rivers even as the number of people who have taken shelter in relief camps crossed the one million mark.

A total of 10,28,000 people were now housed in 3,274 camps in the flood-hit districts, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the media while tonnes of emergency aid poured in from all over the country.

Officials have so far admitted to some 370 deaths, most of them occurring after the monsoon rains turned into a fury on August 9, forcing authorities to open the sluice gates of numerous dams across the state.

Monday did see some people return to their homes from camps in Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram and parts of Pathanamthitta after volunteers working selflessly helped to clean up their muddy homes.

Fifty cases of snake bites were reported in these areas as snakes from overflowing ponds had entered homes, the officials and volunteers said.

Rains in the catchment areas of the major dams in Idukki district subsided. The outflow of water from both the Mullaperiyar and Idukki dams has been reduced.

As a result, the water intake into the Periyar and its tributaries that flow through Ernakulam and Thrissur has come down considerably.

By and large the sky was clear on Monday.

On Monday, helicopters were engaged in rescue operations in places where people were still marooned -- in parts of Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts. Small boats helped to ferry people from interior Chengannur and Pandalam areas.

Other helicopters transported food and relief materials from here to affected areas.

Finance Minister Thomas Issac, who is overseeing the rescue operations in Kuttanadu area in Alappuzha district, said 1.25 lakh people had been moved to relief camps in the district.

Neliyamapathy in Palakkad remained cut off from the main district headquarters as the roads have been badly damaged. Essential items are being airdropped.

An Army officer said the roads would be made motorable, at least for jeeps, on Tuesday.

Waters in the Cochin airport, which was shut on August 15 after flood waters entered the operational area, receded on Monday. Small aircraft started operating from the Cochin Naval airbase.

Aug 20, 2018 10:17 PM

Kolkata Keralities raise funds, relief ## Kolkata Keralities raise funds, relief

Keralities living here are trying to raise funds and other relief materials to help people in flood-hit Kerala, a member of a city-based Malayali association said on Monday.

"We are mainly trying to raise cash. It is the prior requirement of the people who have lost almost everything. They will need money for all other needs," said N. Gopi, Secretary, Calcutta Malayalee Samajam.

Members of various Malayali associations have started a drive to collect the maximum amount of funds and essential items to help the victims of the Kerala flood fury.

"We are trying to send fresh materials like towels, bedsheets and blankets that can be easily given to anybody in need," he said.

Aug 20, 2018 10:12 PM

Maldives donates $50,000 for flood-hit Kerala ## Maldives donates $50,000 for flood-hit Kerala

Expressing sympathies to the government and people of India over the death and destruction in Kerala floods, the Maldives has announced a donation of $50,000 as a "token contribution in solidarity", the Maldives Embassy here said on Monday.

"The government of Maldives conveys profound sympathies to the government and the people of India, in particular to those directly affected by the tragedy," the Embassy quoted a statement from Maldives President Abdulla Yameen's office as saying in a statement.

"India is our closest neighbour," Maldives Ambassador to India Ahmed Mohamed said in the embassy statement.

"Any natural disaster or calamity that strikes our neighbour has an emotional impact on Maldives.

"This donation is a small gesture to a neighbour and friend who has always stood by Maldives in its hour of need."

Ties between India and the Maldives have been strained since President Yameen imposed Emergency in February after the Supreme Court ordered the release and retrial of former President Mohamed Nasheed, a pro-India leader, and other prisoners.

Aug 20, 2018 10:08 PM

One million in Kerala relief centres, says chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan ## One million in Kerala relief centres, says chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan

Over one million people are now sheltered in 3,274 relief camps in Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Monday, even as rains that have battered the state for a week finally abated.

A total of 602 marooned people were rescued on Monday, the Chief Minister told the media

Aug 20, 2018 8:55 PM

Officers contribute Rs 1.5 lakh, one-day salaries ## Officers contribute Rs 1.5 lakh, one-day salaries

The DANICS Officers Association on Monday announced a donation of Rs 1.5 lakh and contribution of one-day salaries by its members for the Kerala flood survivors.

Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS) officers handed over a cheque for Rs 1.5 lakh to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal here and also assured Kerala of all help possible in relief efforts, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) tweeted.

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal had appealed to the public for generous donations. The Delhi government has already announced Rs 10 crore to help flood survivors.

All Delhi Ministers, party MLAs and MPs will also donate a month's salary each.

Aug 20, 2018 8:17 PM

Kerala needs electricians, carpenters, plumbers, says K.J Alphons ## Kerala needs electricians, carpenters, plumbers, says K.J Alphons

Saying flood relief was running "very well", Union Minister K.J. Alphons said on Monday that Kerala needed thousands of electricians, carpenters and plumbers to repair and rebuild damaged homes and buildings.

"Things are running very well and all central forces are providing amazing services," Alphons told NDTV news channel.

"Fishermen have turned out to be the biggest heroes. We thank the people of India and other countries for sending help and showing compassion, but we need technical help when the water level goes down.

"There is no electricity or mobile connectivity. The homes are gone so we need thousands of electricians, carpenters and plumbers to rush to Kerala. The biggest challenge right now is to rebuild. We need people with technical skills to put life back on track," Alphons said.

The Minister said relief teams had been working tirelessly to rescue people and to ensure food, water and medicines reach every person since the worst floods in a century ravaged the state this month.

Aug 20, 2018 8:13 PM

Indian diaspora in China donates Rs 14 lakh for Kerala flood relief ## Indian diaspora in China donates Rs 14 lakh for Kerala flood relief

The Indian diaspora in China in association with the Malayalee Association has raised over Rs 14 lakh for the welfare of flood relief victims in Kerala.

In Beijing, the Malayalee Association along with the Indian Community of Beijing (ICB) raised 50,000 yuan (about Rs five lakh) at a get together here yesterday.

Suresh Varma, president of the Beijing Malayalee Association, said the money is being routed to the Chief Minister's relief fund in Kerala through the Indian Embassy here.

The funds were collected at a special platform setup at the Indian restaurant Taj Pavilion with a lunch and donated the to Kerala relief fund, said M H Pastakia, ICB member.

In Yiwu, the international consumer trade hub which has a large Indian diaspora, the Indian community raised about 80,000 yuan (Rs eight lakh) to be donated to the relief fund.

In Shanghai, the Indian association has so far raised 20,000 yuan (Rs two lakh) to be sent to the Kerala relief fund, member Amit Waiker said.

Aug 20, 2018 7:12 PM

Facebook donates Rs 1.75 crore for Kerala flood victims ## Facebook donates Rs 1.75 crore for Kerala flood victims

Social networking giant Facebook is donating $250,000 (nearly Rs 1.75 crore) for relief work in Kerala, which has been battered by torrential rains, floods and landslides, leaving over 300 dead amid massive destruction, the company said on Monday.

Facebook will donate the money through the Community Resilience Fund for GOONJ -- a Delhi-based non-profit organisation that is leading the relief and recovery efforts in the impacted localities.

"In the last few days, Facebook along with the power of the community, has helped reach out to people through features such as Live, creating Page, joining community and raising funds," a Facebook spokesperson told IANS.

"The smallest of all things we have done is that our global community has contributed $250,000 for Goonj fund," she added.

Kerala has seen unabated rains since August 8, causing one of the worst floods in its history that has until now claimed over 300 lives and rendered thousands homeless.

People across Facebook have created "Groups", "Live Videos" and "Pages" to raise funds to mobilise support and help the worst affected.

The groups created include those facilitating communication and relief to victims, such as coordinating transportation and medical attention; IT professionals gathering information about people who need to be rescued and sharing it with emergency officials and doctors who are offering medical tips to those affected by the floods.

On August 9, the Facebook community activated its feature "Safety Check", allowing people to let their friends and family know that they were safe.

The "Help and the Crisis Donate Button" on the platform has garnered more than 1,300 posts from the affected areas. The posts were asking for help and also for offering things like shelter, food, water, transportation and volunteer work.

So far, nearly 500 people have donated using the Crisis Donate Button.

Importantly, several people who were left stranded used Facebook Live to ask for rescue after being unable to reach authorities.

More than 1,200 people have used Facebook's "Community Help" to ask for and request help, including food, water, transportation and shelter.

The disaster maps on Facebook have helped National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and relevant NGOs to mobilise rescue and support efforts.

These Maps track people's movement and demarcate between the affected (flood-hit) and safe zones. This has also helped the government to identify places, where rescue and relief is required.

Aug 20, 2018 7:04 PM

Kerala CPI asks Minister to return from Germany ## Kerala CPI asks Minister to return from Germany

The Kerala unit of CPI on Monday admonished Forest Minister P. Raju from the party for leaving for Germany last week when the state was in the grip of devastating floods and directed him to return immediately.

State Communist Party of India Secretary Kanam Rajendran told the media here that the party had taken a dim view of Raju's trip abroad from August 16.

"He has been asked to return immediately," said Rajendran.

Though there were murmurs within the CPI for strict action against Raju, informed sources said that a strict warning will be issued for his alleged callousness in going abroad when a calamity had struck Kerala.

Aug 20, 2018 6:16 PM

Aug 20, 2018 6:07 PM

Maharashtra sends medical team to Kerala, hawkers donations ## Maharashtra sends medical team to Kerala, hawkers donations

A team of 81 doctors from Mumbai and Pune left by an Air India flight on Monday with medical relief supplies to help the flood victims in Kerala, an official said here.

The team comprises 55 doctors from Sir J.J. Hospital, Mumbai and 26 from Sassoon Hospital (Pune), said Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan.

They will join other medical teams from across the state who are serving the people of Kerala amidst apprehensions of outbreak of diseases as the flood waters start receding.

Meanwhile, through efforts of various organisations coordinated by the state government, another five tonnes of relief supplies including food packs, milk powder, blankets, bedsheets, clothes, soaps and sanitary napkins will be sent to Kerala on Monday.

This is in addition to over 30 tonne already sent during the past two days besides a cash donation of Rs 20 crore from the state government.

Navi Mumbai's Kerala Bhavan has collected 200 tonnes of materials of which 150 tonne has been dispatched through Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and RoRo vessels.

A group of 20 persons from Saudi Arabia landed in Mumbai as the Kochi Airport is still closed and they have been given shelter in Kerala Bhavan.

A group of Mumbai-born Kerala youths in Powai have launched coordination efforts between various relief agencies, organizing transport and other logistics, identifying the required materials to be sent to Kerala and related issues to streamline the aid pouring in from various sources, said one of the coordinators Pradeep Menon.

A charity show with top Keralite artistes and others in Bollywood is being planned soon after monsoon to raise funds specifically for the poor and displaced flood victims to be handed over to Kerala CM's Distress Relief Fund, Menon said.

Several hundred of members of Azad Hawkers Union, Mira Road (Thane) led by the president Dayashankar Singh, have donated voluntarily over one tonne of relief materials which will be dispatched to Kerala through the Ayappa Swami Temple Trust here.

Aug 20, 2018 6:05 PM

Kerala floods should be declared national disaster, says Antony ## Kerala floods should be declared national disaster, says Antony

Congress Working Committee (CWC) member A.K. Antony on Monday demanded that the Centre immediately declare the Kerala floods as a national disaster.

Speaking at a function to mark the 74th birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi at the state party headquarters here, Antony said if Kerala floods is declared a national calamity, not just funds from the country would come easily but it would also facilitate international help.

"When floods hit Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre said it was almost like a national disaster and Rs 1,000 crore was sanctioned. But when Kerala is facing the worst-ever natural calamity, just Rs 600 crore has been sanctioned, which is nothing in view of the huge damage caused in the state," he said.

Antony said that Congress President Rahul Gandhi has directed all party lawmakers to contribute one month's salary towards Kerala's relief operations and reminded that authorities should take lessons from the way Rajiv Gandhi handled flood-relief operations in his time.

Aug 20, 2018 6:02 PM

Government has asked industrialists, business organisations to help Kerala deal with floods, says Suresh Prabhu ## Government has asked industrialists, business organisations to help Kerala deal with floods, says Suresh Prabhu

The government has asked industrialists and business organisations to provide whatever help they feel is appropriate to flood-affected Kerala, which is facing a "humanitarian crisis", Union minister Suresh Prabhu said today.

Prabhu, who holds the portfolios of Commerce and Industry as well as Civil Aviation, also said that domestic airlines have been persuaded to carry cargo free of cost to the state.

More than 200 people have died and over 7.24 lakh have been displaced following floods and landslips in Kerala, which has been ravaged by heavy rains in the last one week.

Making it clear that the Centre does not want to do "politics" with regard to providing rescue and relief to Kerala, Prabhu said it is only facilitating help.

"Govt has asked industrialists and business organisations... to help in whatever (way) they feel is appropriate," Prabhu told PTI in an interview here.

On steps being taken to help Kerala, the minister said he has directed the DIPP Secretary to talk to all industrialists, business organisations like CII and FICCI, and all philanthropists on what they can give to the state.

"We are not collecting anything, we are only facilitating... What is the purpose of collecting and putting our stamp? We don't want to do any politics over it," he said.

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) comes under the Commerce and Industry Ministry.

Prabhu said efforts being made are purely for humanitarian help. "It is a humanitarian crisis... (which is) very sad and unfortunate," he added.

Airlines have been persuaded to carry free cargo (to Kerala) but there should be a counter-party to receive it there, he added.

According to him, the Civil Aviation Ministry devised a strategy wherein key airlines were contacted in terms of helping Kerala deal with the flood situation.

To help the state, commercial flight operations started today from the naval airport in Kochi as the city's main aerodrome is shut till August 26 due to floods.

"We are willing to do anything and everything possible to make Kerala come back on its own fleet," Prabhu said.

Aug 20, 2018 5:50 PM

Fishermen refuse Rs 3,000 for saving lives ## Fishermen refuse Rs 3,000 for saving lives

A leader of fishermen, who have won widespread praise by rescuing hundreds caught up in the Kerala floods, on Monday refused to accept Rs 3,000 offered to each member of the community by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Khais Mohammed from Fort Kochi said in a video post that he and his colleagues were happy to hear the words of praise from the Chief Minister for the role they played in going to the remotest areas amid pouring rain and dangerous waters to rescue the marooned.

"We are really happy that I and my friends rescued several people. What made us happier was when you said that we (fishermen) are your army.

"But after that we heard that for our services we will be paid Rs 3,000. Sir, that made us really sad as we do not want money for saving the lives of fellow humans," Mohammed said.

He, however, added that all the fishermen were happy that the government had promised to repair their damaged boats free of cost.

"That's good news. But we do not want money for saving lives," he added.

Fishermen from major fishing centres reached the worst-hit Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts with their boats after unprecedented rains and the opening of sluice gates of dams spread misery.

Aug 20, 2018 5:11 PM

Load more