Centre Approved Rs. 80 Crore Aide To Kerala For Floods: Kiren Rijiju
KOCHI, August 12: The centre has sanctioned Rs. 80 crore to Kerala as initial assistance to deal with "unprecedented rains and floods," Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said today.
A central government team headed by Mr Rijiju and accompanied by Union Tourism Minister Alphons Kannanthanam arrived in Kochi this morning. The team will visit the rain-affected districts, including Kottayam, Alappuzha and Ernakulam.
"We issued Rs. 80 crore yesterday and the state government has some amount," Mr Rijiju said, adding the centre and the state would work together to deal with the situation. He said damages caused due to flooding was being calculated.
"We will extend whatever possible help from the Government of India because Kerala has witnessed unprecedented rains and floods. We are with the people of Kerala and the central government will do whatever is required," he told reporters.
Meanwhile, a defence spokesperson said the Southern Naval Command or SNC has sent five teams to Alappuzha district to assist the civil administration in disaster relief. The teams were dispatched after a request by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in view of widespread inundation and waterlogging in the state.
Each team comprises five members and is equipped with inflatable gemini boats and other equipment including diving sets, the spokesperson said.
The SNC is ready to offer assistance with food and medical services if required by the administration, he added.
The toll in rain-related incidents in Kerala has gone up to 41 since the onset of monsoon on May 29.
As many as 1.18 lakh people have taken refuge in 606 relief camps across Kerala, as rains continued to batter several parts of the state.
Our Central team along with Kerala State team is on the way by boats to visit Alappuzha, Komalapuram, Zero Jetty Gruel Centre, Kuppapuram flood relief camps to meet to people. pic.twitter.com/ucqNDPdxEh
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) July 21, 2018
Thank you @KirenRijiju ji for visiting my home State #Kerala for assessing the flood affected areas. @narendramodi ji https://t.co/cQTuNiJxjh
— Alphons KJ (@alphonstourism) July 21, 2018
MoS for Home Affairs @KirenRijiju visits rain affected districts in Kerala to assess rain damage.
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) July 21, 2018
Courtesy: www.ndtv.com
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PM Modi speaks to Iranian president, discusses 'serious' situation in West Asia
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the "serious situation" in West Asia.
Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.
The prime minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities.
“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister also reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability and urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis.
The prime minister had spoken to leaders of several West Asian countries in the last 10 days in the wake of the coordinated offensive launched against Iran by the United States and Israel, in which the Islamic country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed last month.
In retaliation, Iran has fired drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf region, including the global business and aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha.
Modi earlier spoke to the leaders of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Israel and Qatar, and expressed concern over the attacks on their countries, and condemned the violation of some nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community residing in those countries.
Around 1 crore Indians live in the Gulf and West Asia. While about 10,000 Indian citizens live, study and work in Iran, more than 40,000 live in Israel.
