CM Pinarayi Vijayan heads to US for medical treatment

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan left for the US early on Sunday for medical treatment. His wife, Kamala, is accompanying him.

Vijayan, 74, is scheduled for admission in Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He was originally scheduled to travel for the treatment on August 19 but postponed the visit after the devastating floods and landslides that, since August 8, has killed 334 people in the state. The Chief Minister is set to undergo the treatment for about three weeks for his undisclosed ailment, reports said. Newly re-inducted Minister for Industries E P Jayarajan will chair Cabinet meetings and hold charge for collection of contributions to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.

On Saturday, the Chief Minister met Governor P Sathasivam at the Raj Bhavan and briefed him about his travel. He also briefed the Governor on the ongoing measures in rehabilitating the flood-affected and rebuilding the state which has suffered losses in the excess of Rs 20,000 crore. Since the onset of the southwest monsoon, on May 29, the state has lost 486 lives in rain-related incidents.

The CPM-led state government is set to launch a massive campaign to raise funds from Non-Resident Keralites in at least 14 countries as the state prepares for a post-flood rebuilding exercise. A fund collection drive will also be organised in all the 14 districts of the state, between September 10 and 15.