NEW DELHI: As floodwater recedes in Kerala, the Centre is focusing on checking the outbreak of water-borne diseases in the affected areas. The health ministry on Monday airlifted 52 MT of emergency medicines, while a second batch of 20 MT medicines is expected to reach later at night. Around 20MT of bleaching powder and 1 crore chlorine tablets will also be dispatched by Tuesday.

No outbreak of disease has been reported so far from the flooded areas, said a government of India release issued after a review of flood situation by the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) chaired by Cabinet secretary. A dozen medical teams have been put on stand-by to tackle any such emergency.

During the meeting, Kerala chief secretary informed via video conference that there had been less rainfall in Kerala and that floodwater had started to recede.

On Monday, the department of consumer affairs dispatched 100 MT of pulses. The power ministry has moved equipment like electricity meters, coils, transformers etc. to restore the distribution network in the affected areas. Power generation has reached 2600 MW and no difficulty is envisaged on this score, according to the Central government.

The NCMC too stock of communication network too. The department of telecom has made operational 77,000 out of the state’s total 85,000 towers. Out of 1,407 telephone exchanges, all but 13 all are functional. DoT has operationalised a helpline with number ‘1948’ to help trace missing persons.

The ministry of petroleum and natural gas has made available 12,000 KL of kerosene. Adequate arrangements have been made for distribution of LPG cylinders. Adequate aviation fuel is also made available.

Around 450 MT of cattle fodder and two lots of veterinary medicines have been dispatched.

Railways have offered to supply required amounts of water and also transport relief material free of cost. Adequate quantities of milk and milk powder have been made available by department of animal husbandry and dairying.

The NCMC meeting was attended by secretaries of Central Ministries including health, telecom, consumer affairs, food and public distribution, power, petroleum and natural gas, and senior officers of defence forces, MHA and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

