New Delhi: As massive floods cripple several districts of Kerala, Chief Ministers of various states extended financial aid to the southern state.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday announced a relief of Rs. 20 crores. “The Maharashtra Government has also remained in constant touch with the Kerala Government for their requirements and necessary support, since Friday,” read a statement released by Fadnavis’ office.
Around 11 ton of dry food has also been arranged, out of which, six tons would be despatched soonest. Fadnavis also appealed to everyone to come forward and contribute in all possible ways to help the citizens of Kerala.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das announced an aid of Rs 5 crores for the flood- battered state, while Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani ordered the release of Rs. 10 crores from his relief fund.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered to release an aid of Rs. 15 crore from the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Relief Fund.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an aerial survey of the state and announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh to the next kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to those critically injured.
Kerala has been facing the worst flooding in a century. The calamity has also grabbed global attention. Even the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took note of the issue and formed a committee to provide relief to the affected people.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government announced on Saturday an immediate financial assistance of Rs 20 crore for the flood-ravaged Kerala. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, through a post on Twitter, said his government is releasing Rs 20 crore as an immediate assistance for Kerala’s flood-affected people.
He said the state government is in constant touch with its Kerala counterpart for its requirements and necessary support since yesterday in the wake of devastating floods which have caused large-scale damage in the southern state.
Fadnavis appealed to citizens and organisations to come forward and contribute in all possible ways to help the people of Kerala.
On the other hand, Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced that all Delhi Ministers, party MLAs and MPs will donate a month’s salary to help flood-ravaged Kerala, grappling with its worst floods since 1924.
He also urged the Delhi government employees to donate one day’s salary for the humanitarian cause, apart from appealing to the people to donate blankets, clothes and bedsheets.
“All Aam Aadmi Party MLAs and MPs and Ministers will donate one-month salary for Kerala,” Kejriwal tweeted.
“I appeal to all employees of the Delhi government to donate at least one day’s salary each.”
On Friday, Rs 10 crore donation was announced to flood-ravaged Kerala from the Delhi Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The death toll due to rains and floods in Kerala this monsoon season has gone up to 357. Barring Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kasargode, the remaining 11 districts of Kerala continued to be on red alert following prediction of more rains. The death toll since August 9 stands at 194.
On Saturday, Kejriwal held a meeting on the issue of extending more financial and other help to Kerala, during which he decided on sending relief material to the southern state.
Resident Commissioner of Kerala, Puneet Kumar, informed Kejriwal during the meeting that the flood situation remained serious and listed out immediate requirement of bottled water, biscuits, dry ration packets, blankets, bedsheets and clothes. (Agencies)
