PM Modi announces Rs 500 crore assistance to flood-hit Kerala
Kochi, Aug 18 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced Rs 500 crore financial assistance for flood-ravaged Kerala where hundreds of people have died, lakhs have been rendered homeless and property worth millions of rupees has been destroyed in one of the worst floods and torrential rain in recent history.
The Prime Minister, who flew from Delhi on Friday night, made an aerial assessment of the damage caused by the floods. However, the survey was done only in some of the affected areas due to bad weather.
Overflowing rivers and a series of landslides have caused the death of 180 people as of Saturday morning, with over three lakh people forced to move to some 2,000 relief camps.
The aerial survey of the massive loss and destruction triggered by the torrential rains was initially called off due to bad weather.
Following the cancellation, Modi chaired a meeting with Governor P. Sathasivam, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other officials and witnessed a video presentation of the widespread destruction across the state.
"The Prime Minister announced a financial assistance of Rs 500 crore to the state. This is in addition to Rs 100 crore announced on August 12. He assured the state government that relief materials including foodgrains, medicines would be provided, as requested," an official statement said.
Modi also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
Insurance companies were also directed to hold special camps for assessment and timely release of compensation to the affected families and beneficiaries under social security schemes. Directions have also been issued for early clearance of claims under the Fasal Bima Yojna for farmers.
The statement said villagers, whose houses have been destroyed in the floods, would be provided Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin houses on priority.
"The Prime Minister complimented the state government for the efforts made in meeting the challenges of the unprecedented situation. He observed that rescue of people who are still marooned remains the topmost priority," the statement said.
The disaster has triggered an unprecedented rescue and relief operation led by the Army, the Air Force and the Navy along with teams of National Disaster Response Force involving about 1,300 personnel and 435 boats.
Thirty eight helicopters have been deployed, apart from 20 aircraft used for ferrying resources.
The Army has deployed 10 columns and 10 teams of Engineering Task Force (ETFs) involving around 790 personnel. The Navy has provided 82 teams, the Coast Guard 42 along with two helicopters and two ships.
Five Companies of paramilitary troops have also been deployed for rescue and relief measures. Nearly, 7,000 persons have been rescued since August 9 and some 900 given medical assistance.
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PM to visit Assam, Bengal on March 13-14; launch various development programmes
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he will visit Assam and West Bengal in the next two days and attend various programmes and inaugurate development initiatives which will present a wonderful opportunity to interact with the people of the two states.
Modi said the 22nd instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme would be released on Friday at a programme in Guwahati, which is "very special", besides presenting land rights to 3.5 lakh tea garden workers' families.
"I will be in Assam and West Bengal over the next two days to attend programmes in Kokrajhar, Guwahati, Silchar and Kolkata. These programmes will present a wonderful opportunity to interact with the people of these states. Various development works will also be inaugurated," he said in a series of posts on X.
The prime minister said that in addition to this, various works like the Kopili Hydro-Electric Project, Capacity Enhancement Project of NSPL will be inaugurated.
He said the foundation stone for the Furkating-Tinsukia rail line doubling project, cruise terminals at Bishwanath Ghat in Biswanath district and Neamati in Jorhat district will also be laid.
"These, along with the other works, will add momentum to Assam's progress. I look forward to being in Kokrajhar, a place associated with the great Bodo culture," he said.
Modi said the foundation stones would be laid for important road connectivity projects, including Assam Mala 3.0 which would significantly improve inter-state connectivity. Three new train services, namely the Kamakhya-Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express, Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri Express and Narangi-Agartala Express will be flagged off, he said.
"A historic step towards justice and dignity. I compliment the NDA Government in Assam for this. We are proud of the hard work of the tea garden families and will always work to further their well-being," he said on conferment of land rights to tea garden workers.
Prime Minister Modi will visit West Bengal on Saturday, during which he will inaugurate and lay foundation stones of multiple development projects worth around Rs 18,680 crore in Kolkata.
Both Assam and West Bengal will face assembly elections in the next couple of months.
An official statement said that these initiatives "reflect the central government's continued commitment to strengthening infrastructure, enhancing connectivity and accelerating economic growth in West Bengal and eastern India".
According to the statement, the prime minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several national highway projects with a combined length of more than 420 km, worth around Rs 16,990 crore, which would give a major boost to road infrastructure in the region.
The projects being inaugurated include sections of NH-19 in West Bengal and Jharkhand and of NH-114 in West Bengal.
These projects are expected to enhance road safety, reduce travel time, ease congestion and pollution, improve regional connectivity, and promote tourism and boost economic growth in the region, the statement said.
Modi will lay the foundation stone for several new national highway projects.
The project forms part of the economic corridor between Kharagpur and Siliguri and will pass through Paschim Medinipur, Birbhum, Bankura, Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal.
Direct Kharagpur-Morgram connectivity will reduce travel distance by around 120 km and save nearly seven to eight hours of travel time. The corridor will also integrate with key national highways, including NH-16, NH-19, NH-14 and NH-12, thereby strengthening multi-corridor connectivity.
During the visit, the prime minister will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several shipping and port-related projects. He will inaugurate the mechanisation project of Berth number two at Haldia Dock Complex, which will enable efficient, faster and environment-friendly cargo handling.
The project will enhance cargo handling capacity, facilitate efficient full-rake rail loading systems, improve key performance indicators, increase safety by reducing human exposure to hazardous operations, and generate employment.
Modi will also inaugurate the rejuvenation project at the Khidderpore Docks in Kolkata.
The other projects include renovation of the Bascule Bridge at Kolkata Dock System; yard development, including drainage systems, at Kidderpore Dock-I (East) and Dock-II (East); bank protection works along the Kolkata riverfront from the Howrah Bridge pylon to Nimtala Ghat, among others.
In the railways sector, the prime minister will flag off the Purulia-Anand Vihar Terminal (Delhi) Express, strengthening rail connectivity among West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and the National Capital Region.
During the visit, Modi will also inaugurate six redeveloped railway stations -- Kamakhyaguri, Anara, Tamluk, Haldia, Barabhum and Siuri -- under the Amrit Station Scheme.
He will also dedicate to the nation two railway projects -- the 16-km-long third rail line between Belda and Dantan, and the automatic block signalling system between Kalaikunda and Kanimohuli.
These projects will improve train safety and punctuality, reduce congestion and enhance the overall ease of travel for passengers in the region.
