Kerala floods Live Updates: Kerala floods be declared “national calamity” demands Congress

The Congress on Saturday demanded that Kerala floods be declared  national calamity and urged Prime Minister Modi to not discriminate between BJP ruled states and non-BJP ruled states in matter of flood relief.

Addressing media after Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s meeting with PCC Presidents, AICC General Secretaries and In-charges of the States; head  of the AICC communication department, Randeep Surjewala said, “we believe Modi ji should stop discriminating in matters of flood relief between BJP and non-BJP Governments. Only mere ₹100 crore has been given to people of Kerala, while there is absolute devastation. It is time that PM Modi must rise above political partisan game and come forward as a nation to help people of Kerala, people of Karnataka and other States affected by the flood and declare Kerala floods as a national calamity.”

Highklighting “grave situation arising out of floods in Karnataka” Surjewala said Congress governments will come forward to help people of Kerala.

Hi,

I am Vipin Krishnan, General Secretary - AIIMS Nurses Union Delhi.

For past 3 days we, AIIMS Delhi staffs, are collecting many essential medicines and relief items for Flood-hit camps in Kerala. Indian Navy will airlift our relief items to flood-hit areas at 12 midnight (18 August). But we are yet to receive the expected amount of contributions from people around Delhi.

As being one of the most influential internet personality in India, I kindly request you to post a video on your social media platforms, explaining the situation and ask people to drop the essential list of items to the drop points we created around Delhi NCR region. We are expecting monetary help rather than donations. So please request them to give any of the following items, whichever they can, rather than giving donations.

You can post below given details along with the video:

Items Needed:

1.Sanitary Napkins

2.Child / Adult Diapers

3.Undergarments / Nightie / T-shirts / Trousers

4.Rice bags / Green / Dal / Sugar / Tea

5.Blankets / Bed-Sheets / Towels

6.Toothpaste / Brushes / Toilet Soaps

Medicines:

1. Pantocid 40mg

2. ORS packets

3. Citrizine 10mg

4. Paracetamol 500mg

5. Tab Cefixime 200mg

6. Syrup Cefixime

7. Seroflow inhaler

8. Absorbent Cotton wool

9. Paracetamol syrup 125mg

10. Clotrimazole

11. Tab Amplodipine 5mg

12. Tab Minipress XL 5mg

13. Clopidogrel 75mg

14. Tab Metrogyl 400mg

15. Surgical Spirit 500ml

16. Dettol Solutions

Details of collection centers run by AIIMS Nurses Union and Team:

1. Delhi - South:

AIIMS Nurses Union Office, Near SBI Bank Ansari Nagar

Contact no:

Ram Chandran - +91 9560240908

Jinesh - +91 9968720944

Timing: 9:00 a.m-8:00p.m.

2. Delhi – South Avenue

Flat No:7, South Avenue, Near President’s Estate - 110011

Contact no:

Sharan - +91 9497485604

Timing: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00p.m.

3. Noida

44C A5, Pocket 5, Sector 71, Metro Apartment, Noida - 201301

Contact no:

Renjith - +91 8010475625, +91 9319761425

Johncy Mathew - +91 9582007568

Timing: 8:00 a.m - 11:00p.m.

4. Delhi - West

JA 18-D, DDA Flats, Hari Enclave, Hari Nagar - 110064

Contact no:

Niranjan - +91 8587875939

Timing: 6:00 a.m-11:00p.m.

5. Delhi - East

75-A, Pocket C2, Mayur Vihar Phase 3 – 110096

Contact no:

Shideesh Lal - +91 8130067896

Timing: 8:00 a.m-7:00p.m.

6. Delhi – North East

P 35/A5, Pocket P, Near Shani Mandir, Dilshad Garden - 110095

Contact no:

Jino Mon Joseph - +91 9495306683

Timing: 8:00 a.m-10:00 p.m.

7. Delhi – Jawahar Lal Nehru University

JNU Students Union Office.

Contact no:

Sooraj - +91 9205748367

Timing: 9:00 a.m-8:00p.m.

We sincerely request for your help, in this case, to ask the youth to work together for this cause.

Please contact below given number if you want any more details or a request in our official letterhead (We are not able to provide that along with this email because of lack of time)

Vipin Krishnan

Phone Number: +91 9540996077

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chanduksu

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chanduksu

Address:

General Secretary,

AIIMS Nurses Union,

AIIMS Delhi - 110029

Thanks,

Vipin Krishnan

As Kerala is struggling to cope with the flood fury, 21-year-old college student, who was viciously trolled for selling fish to meet her educational needs, has contributed ₹1.5 lakh towards the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund.

Red Alert issued for in 11 districts of Kerala. Heavy rainfall predicted for the day in all districts except Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam & Kasaragod.

Attempts to rescue the stranded are on a war-footing basis. 4 helicopters, 5 military boats & 65 fishing boats are part of operations. Four 100-member strong army teams have been deployed. Food is being supplied using helicopters

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Saturday announced relief materials including rice, milk and Rs five crore more for relief operations in the flood ravaged Kerala. Palaniswami said essential medicines and teams comprising medical and veterinary doctors will be immediately dispatched to the neighbouring state.

Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde on Saturday asked the state government to help Kerala which has been ravaged by the worst floods in almost a century. He asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to announce financial assistance for the southern state and also urged the Centre to declare the floods there a national disaster. State Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said over 320 people had lost their lives till now, adding that Maharashtra should declare financial aid with an open heart

All AAP MPs, MLAs and ministers will donate one-month salary for the relief work in flood-ravaged Kerala, where 194 people have died.

This is humble request to all federal bank account holders,

Kindly do not conduct any transaction from any part of the world (to or from) via withdrawals, deposits, ATM card, NEFT or any other sources of federal bank for a date till later informed, as we are facing a drastic server and banking issue at Aluva (Federal Bank Head Quarters) due to heavy flood in the region.

You may be also shown inappropriate amount in the fed app, those can be only rectified after the flood situation.

People are requested not to panic as all their information and amount are safe at our end.

Kindly corporate till we settle down the situation.

Request prayers for Kerala.

Team,
Federal Bank.

Helicopters not reaching those stranded in Ernakulam. Locals helping in rescue efforts. Water not receding in koonamaavu in Ernakulam

The Odisha government on Saturday sent a 240-member fire services team to carry out rescue operations in flood-ravaged Kerala. The team along with 75 power boats was airlifted by the Indian Air Force from Biju Patnaik International Airport

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has instructed the formation of a national emergency committee to provide relief assistance to people affected by flash floods in the Indian state of Kerala.

According to Sheikh Khalifa's instructions, the committee will be chaired by the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), and include representatives from the UAE's humanitarian organisations.

UN chief Antonio Guterres has expressed sadness over the flooding and extensive damage and displacement caused in rain-battered Kerala. "Our humanitarian colleagues as well as the country team in India have been following the recent floods very closely. The United Nations is of course saddened by the loss of life, destruction and displacement caused by floods in India," Stephane Dujarric, the UN Secretary-Generals spokesperson, told reporters on.

"I would, therefore, request you to kindly make necessary arrangement for providing support in terms of food, drinking water and other necessities to the flood affected people from Odisha." the state's Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi said in a letter to P H Kurian, Additional Chief Secretary, Disaster Management, Kerala.

Army to use choppers for rescue operations in Kodagu which arrive at Harangi Dam helipad. Choppers to be pressed into service after rain subsides. Indian army arrives in district to take part in rescue & relief

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducts an aerial survey of flood affected areas. PM has announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh per person to the next kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 to those seriously injured, from PM’s National Relief Funds (PMNRF).

Kodava Samaj in Bengaluru has lent a helping hand to stranded victims in Kodagu. They have sent 3 canters loaded with water, bread, milk, medicines & bed sheets. The carriers left to Kushalnagar where relief items will be distributed.

1000s and 1000s are marooned & facing a very severe, critical situation & more emergency evacuation operation is needed. What is being done is appreciable but we need more help from the Centre and other states. Kerala is in distress: PC Chacko, Congress on Kerala floods

The State Bank of India has donated ₹2 crore to Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) and announced waiver of fees and charges on services offered by the bank in Kerala.

"It is highly critical in Chengannur. We are badly in need of helicopter for further rescue work. You please tell Mr. Modi to help us by sending helicopter otherwise tens of thousands of people will die tonight for sure. We have been demanding navy help for 5 days. Please explain why you don't give us navy. No navy or no military help had been provided. Air lifting is the only solution. Please, please give us helicopter. Soldiers should be posted. But why don't you do? I beg you, please help us, the people of Chengannur. Nobody is helping. Only the fishermen and common laborers come with their boats and are trying to rescue. But that is quite inadequate. Pamba and Achankovilar are flooding together. People are dying. Mr. Modi is not doing anything. Please give us a helicopter. I beg you. There is no way, thousand will die tonight. Central government should send the military force for quick action. I have been falling on knees for last five days. Nobody to hear. We all are in highly critical situation. My vehicle is under deep water. Every single person in chengannur is in danger. Even a single packet of food is not given to them yet. Tens of thousands will die tonight. Even the rescue workers are loosing their lives. Air lifting is the only solution."

- Saji Cheriyan. MLA, Chengannur

The death toll in rain-battered Kerala touched 174 on Friday as a red alert continued in 12 districts, with various agencies continuing the rescue operations after rains subsided to evacuate over 80,000 persons during the day.