Kolkata: The state government will donate Rs 10 crore to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the flood victims of Kerala. The state government also agreed to give all possible help to its counterpart in Kerala.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted: "My heart goes out to the people of Kerala battling #KeralaFloods. In this hour of crisis, to stand beside the flood-affected people of Kerala, we have decided to make a contribution of Rs 10 crore to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund".
Meanwhile, on request of the state government, South Eastern Railway has decided to run two trains from Ernakulam to Santragachi on Sunday, to ferry the stranded passengers of Kerala. The tentative time of departure of the trains are 6 pm and 9 pm.
Meanwhile, Ramakrishna Mission is carrying out massive relief work among the flood victims in Kerala. Nine centres of RKM, including the monks and volunteers, have swung into action and are providing primary relief to the flood victims. The centres involved are Kalady, Kochi, Koyilandy, Kozhikode, Coimbatore, Tiruvalla, Thrissur and Kayemkulam.
"Incessant rains and flooding of the Purna river has wreaked havoc in the Ernakulum district. Flood water has entered our Ashrama premises and some portions are under 3 feet of water. The situation has worsened owing to lack of electricity and connectivity. The local authorities have made the Ashrama's school a local relief camp and more than 1,800 local people are being provided food and shelter by us. The centre is also distributing blankets, mats, sanitary items, etc. among numerous flood-affected persons. The relief work is being carried out by the Kalady Centre," said an RKM official.
The Koyilandy Centre has so far distributed 1,750 kg rice and 500 kg lentils among 250 flood-affected families in the Aralam Gram Panchayat and is in the process of distributing garments, towels, bedsheets, drinking water, etc. among flood-affected families living in the relief camps.