Kerala CM announces compensation for people affected by floods

An Indian woman sits inside her houses immersed in flood waters in Ernakulam district of Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala.-AFP

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday announced ex-gratia payment of Rs400,000 each to the kin of those who lost their lives in the devastating floods that has hit the state.
The floods have claimed 27 lives so far. The deaths were reported from Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram districts since the rains came down heavily since Wednesday.
Vijayan made the announcement while presiding over a review meeting called held in Wayanad (Kerala) to discuss the loss and destruction caused due to the heavy rains over the past four days.
The Chief Minister earlier undertook an aerial survey of the flood-affected districts along with Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, Chief Secretary Tom Jose and Kerala Police Chief Loknath Behra.
After failing to land in Idukki, the team reached Wayanad, where at the meeting he also announced compensation of Rs400,000 each to all those who lost their homes, while those who had lost both their homes and other properties would get Rs1,000,000.
Each person put up in relief camps would receive Rs3,800, Vijayan said.
Chennithala after the meeting told the media that in Wayanad the need of the hour was medical camps.
Wayanad had come under severe stress on account of the rains that has led to large scale destruction of property due to landslides. Around 10,000 people in the district are languishing in some 200 relief camps.
Vijayan and his team also visited the camps and interacted with the people. They pledged them all help and support.
From Wayanad, Vijayan and the team left for Kochi.