PM Narendra Modi to visit Kerala today

     Written by : SMTV24x7 | Fri, Aug 17, 2018, 11:26 AM

PM Narendra Modi to visit Kerala today

Kerala, Aug 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kerala, where nearly 100 people died since August 8, following torrential rain and related floods and landslides, this evening. He will undertake an aerial survey of the state.

Thirty people died yesterday as the state received 10 times the normal rainfall. Chalakudy town in Thrissur district turned into the sea as river Periyar overflowed. Pandalam town in Pathanamthitta district and Changanassery in neighboring Alappuzha district are flooded as well.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "Had a telephone conversation with Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan just now. We discussed the flood situation across the state and reviewed rescue operations. Later this evening, I will be heading to Kerala to take stock of the unfortunate situation due to flooding."

PM Modi will reach Kochi after attending the funeral of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which is expected to take place around 4 pm. Almost all parts of Thrissur and Chalakudy towns are under water. Fifty police personnel are marooned in Chalakudy bridge. Seven people are missing after a building collapsed at least 70 people had taken shelter in it. Water has started entering relief camps.

The met office has predicted heavy rainfall till Saturday. Thirteen of the 14 districts in Kerala are on red alert - the exception is Kasaragod. Idukki is the worst affected.

Twelve fresh teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been rushed by the Centre, news agency Press Trust of India reported. Altogether, 35 teams are expected to reach the state by evening.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has issued a stern warning to those spreading fake news about floods in the state using social media. The warning came after Idukki District Collector Jeevan Babu said fake news was being spread on social media about the safety of Mullaperiyar dam.