View of flood from navy helicopter. (TOI)

NEW DELHI: The Centre has decided to scale up flood rescue and relief operations in Kerala by deploying additional manpower and equipment. Acting on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi , cabinet secretary P K Sinha on Thursday chaired a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) to review the prevailing flood situation and make further arrangements for continued and scaled up assistance to the state.

In the meeting, the cabinet secretary pressed into service all the forces – Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, NDRF and other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs); and directed that all possible assistance should be provided to Kerala for relief and rescue operations. Sinha also directed that relief material including supply of drinking water, dry food packets and powdered milk be made available to Kerala. For proper reservoir management in Mullaperiyar Dam, a committee chaired by Chairman, Central Water Commission and Engineers-in-Chief of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, has been constituted.

The meeting was attended by secretaries of Union ministries of defence, home, water resources; chiefs of Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF); Member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA); Chairman, Central Water Commission (CWC) and other senior officers. Kerala also participated over video conference and was represented by the state chief secretary and his team. Cabinet Secretary took stock of the situation, preparedness, rescue and relief operations and directed that immediate and continued assistance be provided to Kerala to meet this crisis.

As of now, 18 teams of NDRF, 9 columns and 8 teams of Engineering Task Force (ETC) of the Army, 22 teams of Coast Guard, 24 diving teams of Navy along with helicopters, aircrafts, boats, equipment, life buoys, life jackets, etc., have been dispatched to assist Kerala in rescue operations as well as evacuation of stranded people. Besides this, medical assistance is also being provided by NDRF, Army, Navy including in special medical camps. So far, 2,182 people have been rescued and 968 evacuated through prompt action by NDRF, Army and Navy.

The NCMC will meet again on Friday to review the situation. A total of 77 people have died in Kerala due to floods.

