Army soldier airdrops relief material for stranded people at a flooded area in Chengannur. (AP photo)

NEW DELHI: With water starting to recede in some of the flooded parts of Kerala and no heavy rainfall predicted in the next five days, the Centre has decided to focus on provision of emergency supplies of food, water and medicines as well as restoration of power, telecom and transport links in the state. Meanwhile, National Disaster Response Force ( NDRF ) will concentrate its rescue efforts in the still-affected areas of Thiruvalla, Chengannur, Aluva and Idukki.

Cabinet secretary P K Sinha, who chaired a meeting of National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) for the fourth straight day on Sunday, directed that relief efforts should now be mounted by getting supplies like food, water and medicines to the affected people. Also, restoration of essential services such as power, fuel, telecom and transport links will be taken up on priority.

Kerala chief secretary, who participated in the NCMC meeting through video conference, informed that the situation in the state was gradually improving. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast less rainfall from Monday onwards.

India for Kerala: A Times Network initiative

Train services are expected to be restored on all lines by Monday evening, according to a government of India release issued after the NCMC meeting. Commercial flights will also start operating from the Kochi Naval Base on Monday.

NCMC, which has been meeting daily to review Kerala flood situation as per directions of the Prime Minister, comprises representatives of the defence forces, home ministry, NDRF and other Central ministries, apart from Kerala government brass.

The three Armed Forces and NDRF have together rescued and evacuated more than 38,000 people so far from the flood-affected areas of Kerala. Medical aid has been provided to more than 23,000 people. 3,00,000 food packets have been supplied by the food processing ministry.

While water has started receding in some places, NDRF has scaled up its response activities in the places that are still affected viz. Thiruvalla, Chengannur, Aluva (Ernakulum) and parts of Idukki. Additional NDRF teams are being mobilised to these places from the adjoining areas to rescue the marooned families.

Railways will run two special trains on Monday to Kolkata, originating from Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam. Train services are expected to be restored on all lines by Monday evening. A special train with 14,00,000 litres of water and a Navy ship with 8,00,000 litres of water will reach Kerala by Monday. Railways will also provide blankets and bedsheets to the state government.

Air India has offered to airlift relief material without any cost.

The petroleum ministry has made available 9,300 kilolitres of kerosene to Kerala. Additional 12,000 kilolitres of kerosene will be allocated. LPG bottling plant in Kochi has been reopened.

The health ministry is airlifting 60 tonnes of emergency medicines to Kerala on Monday. It has put six specialised medical teams on standby.

The department of food and public distribution has made available 50,000 MT of food grains (rice and wheat), with additional quantities in the pipeline. The department of consumer affairs has made arrangements to airlift 100 metric tonnes of pulses by Monday and send additional quantities by train.

