New Delhi: Amid crucial flood situation in the South, the Ministry of Home Affairs is closely monitoring the flood situation of Kerala and has assured all possible from the Centre, the officials in the Ministry said. The National Disaster Response Force has deployed eleven teams for rescue operations in the states while the relief panel of the Indian Navy and Air force have also been deployed for relief and rescue operations.

According to National Disaster Response Force officials, one rescue team each has been deployed at Mallapuram, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Palakkad and Kannur and two teams in Idukki in the wake of the heavy rains in the state. The officials also stated that more teams have been kept on standby and will be deployed if needed by the state administration.

The 4 battalions of Disaster Response located in the Arakkonam district have been active in the landslide affected areas of Kokkayar in Idukki district and 33 persons including seven children have been evacuated from Vaipur in Rani Taluk in Pathanamthitta district to safer places. One team consists of 47 personnel equipped with inflatable Jemini boats, tree and pole cutters, communication gadgets, and basic medical aid to rescue affected people. Thus far, 23 people have died and many have been injured and displaced due to heavy rains which lashed central and south Kerala resulting into flash floods.

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