Thiruvananthapuram, August 22: The Kerala government has decided to organise a farewell on August 26 to express its love and gratitude towards the various defence forces who helped in relief and rescue operations in the state. The Indian Defence Forces along with various government agencies have launched the Operation Madad in the state for evacuating people from flood-hit areas to safe locations.

The Indian Army alone has made 13 temporary bridges to reconnect 38 remote areas of the flood-hit districts of Kerala. The army also used two advanced light helicopters and two Chetak helicopters in the operation. A total of 10 flood relief columns, 10 Engineer Task Force, 53 BAUTs of the army are taking part in the operation.

Besides the army, the Indian Air Force, The Indian Navy and The Indian Coast Guard are also involved in the operation. The air wing of the armed forces are using two Mi-17 helicopters and one advanced helicopter to winch people stranded in the floods to safe locations.

Apart from this, Apart from this, 10 rescue teams of the navy are involved in the operation. The navy is also using 10 motorised boats, one advanced light helicopter and one Seaking helicopter in the rescue operation. Indian Naval Ships Deepak and Mysore have disembarked food and drinking water for the people who got stuck in the floods.

The naval wing of the Indian armed forces also rescued a pregnant lady. The lady with water bag leaking has been airlifted and evacuated to Sanjivani. Later the lady delivered a baby; both are reported to be fine now. The rescue operations have reached the final stages as the water has started to recede.

Heavy and incessant rains have lashed Kerala. The southern state is reeling under heavy floods since August 8. More than 400 people have lost their lives in the floods. The centre has declared it as ‘the calamity of severe nature’. The central government issued a financial aid of Rs 500 crore to the state. The support has also been poured in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 22, 2018 08:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).