Rajnath to conduct aerial survey of flood-hit Kerala on Sunday
New Delhi, Aug 11: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will conduct an aerial survey of flood-affected areas in Kerala on Sunday, a Ministry statement said on Saturday.
The Union Minister will be accompanied by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism K. J. Alphons and other senior officers from the Ministry.
He will also review the search, rescue and relief measures taken by the state government and other Central Government agencies with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, ministers of the state government, Chief Secretary and other senior officers of the Central agencies and state administration.
During the current south-west monsoon season, various parts of Kerala have been reportedly affected by heavy rains and rain oriented calamities, said the statement.
It said at least 14 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams consisting of 404 rescuers and 31 boats have already been deployed in various parts of flood-hit areas including Thrissur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Idukki districts.
The teams will assist the state administration in the relief and rescue operation as well as distribution of essential relief material and provide medical support to affected people at the time of emergency.
So far, NDRF teams have rescued seven people and evacuated 398 others and 12 livestock.
In view of possible inundation, NDRF teams are kept on standby in vulnerable locations and are keeping close vigil over the development of situation, said the statement, adding that "additional teams are also kept at standby at nearest NDRF battalion in Arakkonam and shall be mobilized, if required. Director General of NDRF, Sanjay Kumar, is supervising the ongoing rescue operations".
"Besides the NDRF, adequate columns of Army, Navy and Coast Guard, Helicopters of Indian Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard are deployed in the state for assisting the state administration in lifting and dropping of essential commodities," the statement added.
The northern and central parts of the state have been battered by heavy rains since August 8, causing one of the worst floods in its history.
The floods have claimed at least 29 lives across the state in the last 36 hours, leaving over 54,000 homeless.
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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.
