Alapuzha/Kochi: Terming the Kerala floods as a "very big tragedy", Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday assured that his party would bring pressure on the central and state governments to provide compensation which they 'owe' to the affected people.
Visiting the flood-ravaged areas of Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts, he also urged the party workers to actively participate in relief and rehabilitation operations and help the people to make their ravaged houses liveable.
"It has been a very big tragedy for all of us. Many many people have lost their lives, many lost their property. I want all of you to know that you are not alone and we are all with you," he said.
Arriving in Kerala on a two-day visit this morning, Gandhi spoke to people at relief camps, days after the deadliest deluge in the last 100 years left a trail of destruction and claimed 474 lives in rain-related incidents since May 29 when the monsoon set in over the state.
"The government owe you compensation and the government has to help you rebuild your houses. We are in the opposition and it is our job to bring pressure on the government," he told people sheltered in a relief camp in Aluva near Kochi, one of the worst affected areas in the monsoon fury.
Reaching out to the flood affected people, the Congress president said "we cannot do very big things" as the party was not in power in both the state and the Centre, but promised to extend whatever possible.
He urged the Congress workers and leaders to "pressure" the governments to get the people compensation.
"We will also apply pressure on the BJP government in Delhi...," he said addressing people at a relief camp in North Parvoor in Ernakulam district.
Gandhi hailed every Keralite for standing together at the time of the calamity, saying they should be proud of themselves. All religions, all communities, all castes, all regions stood together and fought the tragedy, he added.