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

Chandigarh : Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has 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 Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to Kerala CM’s Relief Fund, the remaining Rs 5 crore will be in the form of ready-to-eat food material and other supplies, to be flown out with the help of the Defence Ministry.

Flood in Kerala

An official spokesperson disclosed that the first Air Force sortie was expected to take off tomorrow to deliver 30 tonnes of ready-to-eat foods, such as biscuits, rusks, bottled water, and milk powder, to the flood-hit state. 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.

Flood in Kerala

A total of four sorties, carrying 30 tonnes each, would be undertaken, said the spokesperson, adding that the Punjab government was pulling out all the stops to ensure timely relief measures for the crisis-ridden Kerala state. The Punjab Financial Commissioner Revenue had earlier spoken to his Kerala counterpart, on the directives of Captain Amarinder Singh, to assess the situation and the kind of support required by the Kerala government to deal with the unprecedented flood situation.

Captain Amarinder Singh

Thereafter, officials of the Punjab government got in touch with the Defence Ministry to seek their help in transfer of the relief material, said the spokesperson.