Punjab pitches in to help flood-ravaged Kerala

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday announced Rs 10 crore worth of immediate relief for the flood-ravaged state of Kerala.

While Rs 5 crore is being transferred from the Punjab CM Relief Fund to Kerala CM’s Relief Fund, the remaining Rs 5 crore will be in the form of ready-to-eat food and other supplies to be flown out with the help of the Ministry of Defence.

The first Air Force sortie was expected to take off on Saturday to deliver 30 tonnes of ready-to-eat food, including biscuits, bottled water and milk powder. About one lakh food packets are to be sent in the first consignment. The remaining will be dispatched as and when requisitioned by the Kerala government, Capt said.

Pulling out all stops

A total of four sorties carrying 30 tonnes each of food supplies would be undertaken. Capt said the Punjab government was pulling out all the stops to ensure timely relief measures for crisis-ridden Kerala. Punjab Finance Commissioner (Revenue) earlier spoke to his Kerala counterpart to assess the situation and determine the kind of support required by the Kerala government to deal with the unprecedented flood situation. Thereafter, officials of the Punjab government got in touch with the Defence Ministry to seek their help in transfer of the relief material, the government said.

Meanwhile, acting on the CM’s appeal, members of the Punjab IAS Officers’ Association have decided to donate one day’s salary each to the CM’s Relief Fund to support the Kerala relief measures.