Monsoons Wreak Havoc in the Indian States: Death Tolls are on the Rise
Every year the monsoon brings heavy rain along with it. While for some regions rain has brought hope, happiness, and tranquillity, this year's monsoon has resulted in havoc in certain Indian states. South Indian states like Karnataka and Kerala have faced severe floods, and 169 deaths have been reported till now. Rain-related incidents are also witnessed in west India. The death number in Kerala floods rose to 72 while the situation of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat remained grim where 97 people lost their lives.
Indian Army is continuously on its mission to save the people and pull them out from floods and provide relief. NDRF team is also ensuring that affected people in the states are given proper assistance along with food. In Kerala, over 2.51 lakhs people have taken shelter in 1630 relief camps as issued by the state government.
IMD has even issued a red alert for Kannur, Kasaragod, and Wayanad due to heavy rain forecast. Kozhikode district witnessed 21cm rainfall, which is the highest in the state as of 8:30 AM on Sunday. Thrissur and Perinthalmanna followed with 19.9 cm and 13.8 cm, respectively. Making things even worse, Puthulama in Wayanad got struck by a massive landslide on Thursday after which eight people went missing with the search operations still continuing.
The Army, Navy, NDRF, Coast Guard, Police Force, Volunteers, and fishermen are involved in the rescue operation across the states. For two-days, airline services, especially in Kochi International airport was put at a halt due to the prediction of heavy rainfall. Trains such as Jamnagar Express, Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Duronto, and Kochuveli-Amritsar Express have been cancelled according to the Southern Railway.
Rahul Gandhi, being an MP, visited a relief camp in Wayanad and spoke to the unfortunate people there. In addition to that, he also visited Kavalappara, which faced a massive landslide on the 8th of August. Union Home Minister Amit Shah undertook an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of the states.
So far, Malappuram Disaster Management Authority has retrieved 11 bodies from Kavalappara while 50 bodies are still under the mud and sludge. Coming to Maharashtra, 35 people have been killed in rain-related incidents in five districts in a week, and 17 have drowned after a boat turned over near Brahmanal village in Sangli on Thursday. So far, four-lakhs people have been sheltered from the flood-affected areas of the state in addition to that, 761 villages in 69 Tehsils are have been affected the calamity.
Coming to the funds received for help; Maharashtra gets Rs 20 crore in just two days. Poet Sushilkumar Shinde donated his entire prize money of Rs 50000 in the CM Relief Fund. Chief Minister of Karnataka BS Yediyurappa estimated the loss of the state was Rs 10000 crore and requested the Center to release Rs 3,000 crore as immediate relief. He has also requested private companies to support relief labours in Karnataka. Yediyurappa has also proposed to rename the villages with those of companies that will pay over Rs 10 crore for flood remedy program. So far, Rs 4.09 crore has been donated by various sources to the CM’s relief fund. Also, CM and ministers of Maharashtra have donated their one-month salary for flood sufferers.
Apart from ministers, a garment trader named Noushad donated his entire stockpile to Kerala victims followed by actor Rajesh Sharma. Puneeth Rajkumar, who is nicknamed as Sandalwood actor, has donated Rs 5 lakh to the CM’s Natural Calamity Relief Fund. Infosys Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of Infosys, Chairperson Sudha Murty has donated Rs 10 crore for flood relief. Harman Finodchem Ltd. has donated Rs 51 lakhs. Gurudwara Board Takht Sachkhand Shri Huzur Abchal Nagar Sahib, Nanded, provided food and medical help in Kolhapur and Sangli. Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje Sakhar Udyog has donated Rs 10.51 lakh. Super Agriculture Produce Market Committee has contributed Rs 11 Lakh while Aurangabad District Cooperative Milk Producer Union has donated Rs 25 lakhs, the CMO official reported. Celebrity couple Ritesh and Genelia Deshmukh have contributed Rs 25 lakhs to flood relief camp in Maharashtra. Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan Trust has donated Rs 10 crores to help flood-hit areas in Maharashtra.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar has anticipated complete farm loan waiver in flood-districts of Maharashtra. Also, the Mumbai Congress will be sending relief trucks full of relief material to the deluged areas in the next few days.
People willing to donate funds can contribute their share through the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. Here are the details following which any citizen can make their desired donations:
Chief Minister Relief Fund Natural Calamity
Account No.: 37887098605
IFSC code: SBIN0040277
Bank: State Bank of India, Vidhana Soudha Branch
MICR code: 560006043
