Monsoon calamities have claimed 123 lives in four months starting June 1 this year.
The highest toll was reported form Malappuram, 16 deaths, followed by Kasaragod and Kannur, 15 deaths each. The State will have to distribute Rs. 1.84 crore as compensation to these deaths that have direct bearing on the monsoon calamities.
The four-month-long period, which was marked by heavy rain battering the State, left another 24 injured. The rising waters also ravaged the agriculture sector leading to crop loss besides destructing a large number of houses. The calamity figures were accounted till September 15.
The State Relief Commissioner has sought Rs. 184.5 crore as Central assistance to be distributed as compensation for the calamity-hit areas. A Central team is currently touring the State for taking stock of the damage.
Kerala has pointed out that its State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF) would soon be exhausted, as it had huge commitments to meet. The SDRF “has a commitment deficit of not less than Rs. 147 crore,” which has forced the State government to seek Central assistance again.
