Kerala Floods: More Than Food & Clothes, Thousands of Technicians Required to Restore Life in State, Says MoS Tourism KJ Alphons
Rains have slowed down across Kerala while rescue and relief operations continued on Monday in the flood-hit state. As people contribute through means of food, ration and funds, Minister of State for Tourism KJ Alphons has said that the state needs technicians to reform the infrastructure.
Thiruvananthapuram, August 20: Rains have slowed down across Kerala while rescue and relief operations continued on Monday in the flood-hit state. As people contribute through means of food, ration and funds, Minister of State for Tourism KJ Alphons has said that the state needs technicians to reform the infrastructure. He said that more than food and clothes, flood-ravaged Kerala needed these professionals in huge numbers to help with restoration work.
"There'll be no electricity in homes. Carpentry, plumbing would be gone. We need hundreds of thousands of electricians, plumbers, carpenters to rush to Kerala. We don't need clothes/food. People with technical capabilities are reqd to put life back into Kerala," Alphons said. (Also Read: Thank You note painted on the roof of a house from where Indian Navy rescued two women)
He also praised fishermen who pressed their boats into service to help rescue people from flooded areas in Kerala. "Today we have close to a million people in relief camps. District collectors are working as coordinators and providing supplies. Central forces are providing amazing service to Kerala. Biggest heroes are fishermen, they came in 600 boats and are rescuing people," the minister added.
Meanwhile, flights started operating at the INS Garuda Kochi Naval Air Station as operations at Cochin International Airport remain suspended. The first commercial flight landed at INS Garuda Kochi Naval Air Station on Monday.
Heavy rains and floods have brought the state of Kerala to a standstill, claiming several lives in the past few days. The death toll in Kerala has crossed 350 and at least 2 lakh people have been displaced.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2018 11:36 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).