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Kerala Flood: Rahul speaks to PM Modi, urges to increase Army, Navy deployment

India Blooms News Service | @indiablooms | Aug 16, 2018, at 02:17 pm

New Delhi, Aug 16 (IBNS): Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Kerala flood situation, urging the latter to increase the deployment of Army and Navy in the southern state.

Rahul has also urged the Prime Minister to give financial assistance to flood-hit Kerala.

The Congress president tweeted to say, "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."

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

The flood has claimed 79 lives so far, according to The Times Of India.

Earlier on Thursday, Modi spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan about the flood.

Modi and Vijayan discussed the calamity, which was caused by heavy rain.

Modi 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."

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

Southern Railways and Kochi Metro have suspended their operations owing to an adverse situation in the state, The Times of India reported.

Red alert has been issued for Ernakulam, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasargod, Thrissur, Kottayam, Alappuzha, and Pathanamthitta districts.

All the rivers in the state are presently overflowing and all the dams are also releasing water.

To combat with the situation, the state has opened 35 of its 39 dams on Wednesday.

Image: twitter.com/RahulGandhi

#KeralaFlood #RahulGandhi #PMModi #CongressPresident #ArmyNavyDeployment

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