8,46,680 people in relief camps: Kerala CM
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 19: A total of 846,680 people made homeless by devastating floods in Kerala are sheltering in 3,734 camps and the last stage of rescue operations is now on, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Sunday.
"Our prime concern was to save lives. It appears it has been met," Vijayan told the media amid reports that the floods, the worst since 1924, have left around 370 people dead and led to widespread destruction.
He said the next task would be to help people get back to normal life, for which a plan was being worked out.
"Rehabilitation will be done by various agencies," the Chief Minister said. He pledged that all towns and cities hit by the floods would be cleaned on a war footing.
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Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to visit US
New Delhi (PTI): Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will undertake a three-day visit to Washington DC beginning Wednesday to review the full spectrum of India-US ties.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Misri's April 8-10 trip will provide an opportunity to advance ongoing bilateral cooperation across key areas.
"The visit will provide an opportunity to review the full spectrum of India-US bilateral relations and advance ongoing cooperation across key areas," it said in a statement.
The MEA said the foreign secretary will hold discussions with senior officials of the US administration on a wide range of issues, including trade, defence, science and technology, as well as regional and global developments of mutual interest.
"The visit follows the External Affairs Minister's visit to Washington DC in February and is in keeping with the regular high-level exchanges between the two sides," it added.
