Andhra CM Naidu speaks to Pinarayi, rushes rescue teams with relief material to Kerala

The special rescue team from the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Response and Fire Services Department will stay in Kerala till the relief operations are completed.
Andhra CM Naidu speaks to Pinarayi, rushes rescue teams with relief material to Kerala
Andhra CM Naidu speaks to Pinarayi, rushes rescue teams with relief material to Kerala
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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday spoke to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan over the phone and said that his government would extend all possible help to the flood-hit state.

In a statement, the Chief Minister's Office quoted Naidu expressing his grief over the loss of lives and destruction of property in Kerala, adding that they had announced a financial assistance of Rs 10 crore to the state.

The state government also dispatched a special rescue team from the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Response and Fire Services Department to Kerala.

"12 motorboats with various equipment like ropes, lights and life jackets, along with the DFO Guntur and ADFO Prakasam are being flown from Vijayawada to Kochi. We are in contact with officials over there who will receive them and delegate them to conduct rescue operations where needed. The special rescue team will stay there for as long as the Kerala government needs it to," K Satyanarayana, Director General, State Disaster Response and Fire Services, told reporters.  

A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel also left for Kerala along with the state team.

Earlier this week, the Andhra Pradesh government extended help to its Kerala counterpart, which is currently tackling one of the worst floods in the history of the state.

"Have been receiving updates about areas affected badly by floods in Kerala. Taking all measures to help those stranded by floods and contributing Rs 5 cr for relief work. Help the victims and donate to Kerala's Distress Relief Fund," Naidu tweeted.

The death toll due to rains and floods in Kerala has gone up to 368, as 33 more deaths were reported on Saturday even as around 58,000 people were rescued in different parts of the state, and red alert is now there in just three districts, down from 11.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, while giving the latest figures, told the media late on Saturday that the flood relief work is going on in full swing and things are slowly coming under control and more helicopters and personnel would be engaged in the rescue and relief operations on Sunday.

IANS inputs

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