NCMC meets for the second time in two days to review flood situation in Kerala
New Delhi, Aug 17 (IBNS): The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) met for the second time in two days in Delhi on Friday to review the rescue and relief operations in the flood-affected areas in Kerala.
Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha, who chaired the meeting, held a video conference with the Chief Secretaries of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
It was decided to mobilise additional resources of all agencies including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to provide the required assistance to Kerala.
The Cabinet Secretary directed these organisations to provide boats, helicopters, life jackets, life buoys, raincoats, gumboots, inflatable tower lights etc. Kerala Chief Secretary requested for motorised boats so as to reach people marooned in flood-affected areas.
So far, the Centre has mobilised deployment of 339 motorised boats, 2,800 life jackets, 1,400 lifebuoys, 27 light towers and 1,000 raincoats. Further, 72 motor boats, 5,000 life jackets, 2,000 lifebuoys, 13 light towers and 1,000 raincoats are being deployed. 1,00,000 food packets have been distributed and arrangements are being made to supply another 1,00,000 food packets. Provision has been made for the supply of milk powder as well.
The Indian Navy has deployed 51 boats along with diving teams, 1,000 life jackets and 1,300 gumboots are being rushed to Kerala on Friday. It flew 16 sorties in 48 hours in rescue operations. It will airdrop 1,600 food packets today.
The Coast Guard has deployed 30 boats along with rescue teams, 300 life jackets, seven life rafts and 144 lifebuoys.
The IAF deployed 23 helicopters and 11 transport aircraft. Some of the aircraft are being flown in from Yelahanka and Nagpur.
The Army pressed into service 10 columns, 10 Engineering Task Forces (ETFs), 60 boats and 100 life jackets.
The NDRF has mobilised 43 rescue teams and 163 boats along with other equipment.
The Cabinet Secretary directed these organisations to mobilise additional boats and equipment including from CAPFs such as CRPF, BSF and SSB.
The Railways has provided 1,20,000 water bottles. Another 1,20,000 bottles are ready to be despatched. It is also running a special train carrying 2.9 lakh litres of drinking water that will reach Kayakulam tomorrow.
Use of Naval airstrip at Kochi for use by civilian airlines has been offered to the Kerala Government as the civilian airport remained closed.
The Kerala Government has been advised to explore the use of V-SAT communication links in areas where telephone connectivity has been disrupted.
The Cabinet Secretary also directed that emergency medicines may be put on standby.
The NCMC will meet again on Saturday to review the situation.
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