Incessant rains have brought Kerala to a standstill. Schools, colleges, government offices, most private organisations are shut as floodwater continues to rise with each passing day. Kochi metro and southern railway services have been suspended, the Korti airport is closed until April 18. Rescue operations are in full swing, however incessant rains continue to flood the state.

Meanwhile, common people are helping various NGOs and organisations working along with the government in relief operations. Many actors, celebrities and civil servants are also on the ground level doing their bit in helping relief materials reach the needy. On Wednesday, the Centre rushed four more NDRF teams to help the local administration in the relief-and-rescue operations. Kerala Rains: IAS Officers Carrying Rice Bags on Shoulders for Flood Relief Camps Are Setting an Inspirational Example!

You can also help Kerala during the tough times by contributing to Chief Minister's relief fund.

Here are the details:

Name of Donee: CMDRF

Account number: 67319948232

Bank: State Bank of India

Branch: City branch, Thiruvananthapuram

IFSC: SBIN0070028

PAN detail: AAAGD0584M

Mailing address: The Principal Secretary (Finance) Treasurer,

Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund, Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram -1

Anbodu Kochi, a social media collective in association with Ernakulam district administration has been collecting relief materials to send to the camps. Here are the things they require:

Cooking utensils and dining utensils like plates and tumblers

• Rice and other pulses and cereals

• Containers for storing rice, other pulses and cereals

• Mugs and buckets

• Sanitary napkins

• First Aid medicines/kits

• Candles and matchboxes

• Packaged food (no bread or cream biscuits)

The local group does not accept money so people wanting to contribute can send the above-mentioned items to these addresses- Control Room, Collectorate, Kannur – 670002, Phone no. 94466 82300, 04972700645. You can contact the district coordinators by calling on these numbers 9809700000, 9895320567, and 9544811555.

Till now, 14 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in the affected areas of Idukki, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Alappuzha, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Thrissur and Pathanamthitta districts. One NDRF team consists of about 45 personnel.

These are verified and authorised means through which you can donate to the victims of Kerala floods. Do not fall trap to fake WhatsApp messages or online fraud requesting you for charity through any means for Kerala. At a time when fake messages and online fraud to extort money are common, ensure money for needy reaches the right hands.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 16, 2018 02:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).