Kerala floods: PM asks MoD to step up relief and rescue ops; 25 dead in 24 hours

He also spoke with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan again this morning.

ANI image

New Delhi:  Prime Minster Narendra Modi today asked the Defence Ministry to further step up relief and rescue operations across Kerala which is facing a severe flood situation. He also spoke with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan again this morning. "We discussed the flood situation in the state. Have asked Defence Ministry to further step up the rescue and relief operations across the state. Praying for the safety and well-being of the people of Kerala," the PM tweeted.

Spoke to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan again this morning. We discussed the flood situation in the state. Have asked Defence Ministry to further step up the rescue and relief operations across the state. Praying for the safety and well-being of the people of Kerala. @CMOKerala

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 16, 2018

Kerala is in great pain. I spoke to PM and requested him to massively increase deployment of the Army & Navy. I also said that it is critical that he gives the state special financial assistance as this is a tragedy without parallel in Kerala’s history. #IndiaStandsWithKerala

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 16, 2018

Yesterday evening, Modi had told Vijayan that the Centre stood firmly behind Kerala and was ready to provide any assistance. Rains in the state have claimed 47 lives, officials said, adding that a red alert had been sounded in 12 of the 14 districts.

#WATCH Indian Air Force airlifts a person in flood affected Pathanamthitta district of Kerala pic.twitter.com/DvOY7tS740

— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2018