Had more rain that forecast; 483 lives lost: CM tells special assembly session

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told Kerala Assembly on Thursday that what the state faced was the biggest flood of the century.

Addressing the special assembly session held on Thursday, he paid homage to the 483 people who lost in the floods and said 14 are missing. He informed that 59,296 people are still staying in relief camps, and another 140 are undergoing hospital treatment. About 59,296 people from 16,767 families are still staying in 305 relief camps.

He paid tributes to rescue workers who struggled hard to save lives, at the risk of their own lives. The government faced the flood with all its machinery who worked in close co-ordination with the people. He expressed thanks to all who helped the rescue efforts and members of the house who stood together cutting across ruling-opposition borders.

Vijayan also mentioned that all relief activities were conducted with the involvement of the public. The central forces, military, police and other state government machinery were effectively deployed for the operation. A control room was opened on 9th of August to function round the clock. Special officers were appointed in disaster-affect areas.

Vijayan elaborated on the co-ordination of rescue operation which was done under the leadership of ministers, and with police in charge of the operations. It involved a vital role by fishermen too. As a result of all this, lakhs of people were moved to safe locations. Two review meetings were held every day. For ensuring united efforts, an all-party meeting was also held. Cabinet meetings were held at different stages.

The chief minister also gave figures of those deployed in the rescue operations which included 7,443 from central forces. Police employed 40,000 and 3,000 from fire and rescue wing participated. 0,000 police officers and 3200 fire force personnel took part in the rescue operations. 5700 hectares of land was submerged in water.

On the losses suffered, the chief minister said that if damage and environmental changes are taken into account, the state has suffered a huge loss. Ever since the weather agencies had forecast heavy monsoon, the government had made every effort to face it. Right since May 2018, actions were initiated. But the monsoon hit with greater ferocity than predicted, and this was what put all machinery out of gear.

The state this year had monsoon rains higher than predicted and was three times what was forecast by central weather agencies. All the 82 dams overflowed. Disaster first struck with landslides in Kattippara in Kozhikode district. Thereafter, several districts got marooned due to landslides and causing loss of lives. The landslides and rains upset the very landscape of the affected area. Thus the state was thrown into the biggest flood of the century.

Describing the current status, the chief minister said that rescue efforts of the first phase of survival is now complete, and the next is that of rehabilitation. Our united approach should be taken forward with greater strength. These rescue operations opened new vistas of readiness to sacrifice and dedication. Those who arranged the essential infrastructure in the camps received immense help from within and outside the state and also from abroad.

In the current stage of rehabilitation, restoration of electricity, drinking water, transport facilities and infrastructure is moving on course.

The chief minister summarized that what the people Kerala showed was a struggle of survival. The special assembly session is scheduled to last until 2 pm.