Centre constitutes team to inspect Wayanad relief works

Inter-Ministerial Central Team inspects flood-hit Wayanad, Kerala; NDRF rescues 30, evacuates 520, retrieves 112 bodies; Centre releases funds.

An Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) constituted by the Central government to inspect relief works in flood-hit areas of Wayanad district in Kerala completed their three-day (August 8-10) visit on Saturday.

Till now, a total of 30 persons have been rescued, 520 persons evacuated and 112 dead bodies retrieved by the NDRF rescue teams.

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Data from the Ministry of Home Affairs indicates that over the past five years, the Union government released around ₹1,200 crore as the Centre’s share in the State Disaster Response Force out of the total State Disaster Response Fund of ₹1,780 crore.

“This year, on April 1, Kerala SDRF account had around ₹395 crore. The first instalment of Central share of SDRF for the ongoing year of over ₹145.60 crore was released in advance on July 31,” Ministry officials said.

The Centre also released a sum of ₹445 crore for State Disaster Mitigation Fund in the past five years.

On July 30, due to incessant and heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, a major landslide occurred at Mundakki, Chooralmala, Vellarimala Village, in Wayanad.