An increased number of helicopters, boats and officials have gathered in Kerala in a bid to mass evacuate those stranded in inundated areas.
It has been reported that various fishermen in Kerala will also be involved in the rescue activities on their fishing boats.
According to a report by Manorama News, food packets will be distributed in the affected areas through helicopters which will leave from Thiruvananthapuram.
In what can be said to be a very crucial day as far as rescue operations are concerned, 23 additional helicopters have arrived at the technical area of the Thiruvananthapuram airport from where they will leave for the affected areas, as and when they are requested to.
It has been reported that 40 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) with 20 members in each team have arrived in Thiruvananthapuram, from where they will leave for Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts.
The Navy forces along with 40 diving teams are continuing their rescue operations in Kerala, especially in the Ernakulam district, where most of the area was flooded due to the overflowing Periyar.
It has been reported almost 150 people were airlifted from Ernakulam district on Thursday, after which they were taken to a camp operated by the Indian Navy.
The Navy has also set up relief camps in Fort Kochi and Aluva.
The headquarters of the Southern Naval Command in Kochi had launched Operation ‘MADAD’ in early August in view of the heavy rains that has hit the state, leaving thousands stranded and isolated.
In its brief about the operation, the Southern Naval Command has said that they have deployed relief teams in Wayanad district from the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala. Also present in Wayanad are the diving teams from Kochi.
The rescue team from the Indian Naval Academy, which is deployed in Wayanad includes 4 officers, 16 sailors with Gemini and 8 Humanitarian Assistance and Distress Relief (HADR) pallets.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a press meet on Thursday evening, said that various agencies of the central and state government were working in tandem to control the situation. The water level of the Chalakudy River is not going to decrease for now, so precautionary measures will be taken, he added.
“Many people are stranded in waterlogged areas on the second and third floors of buildings. We are trying to rescue them from there and measures will be taken to provide food and water for them to survive. We need the cooperation of everybody in the country to do this,” Pinarayi Vijayan said.
With more rainfall predicted on Friday, the CM advised people to be cautious and asked them to be wary of fake news pertaining to the floods. This comes soon after a circular, which said that action will be taken against people who spread false information.