Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a quick visit to Poonthura on Tuesday, one of the worst-affected fishing hamlets along Kerala’s southern coast from cyclone Ockhi, where he met families of dead and missing fishermen and promised all possible help from the Centre to help them tide over the tragedy.
Modi, who heard out the pleas of the fishing community, told them that the central government did its best in terms of search-and-rescue operations and would continue the same. “I have come here to share your woes. The central government would see how the affected people can be helped. We would see what could be done for those who lost their boats and equipment in the cyclone. I hope all those still missing would be home before Christmas,” he said.
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan submitted a memorandum to the PM, seeking a special package worth Rs 7,340 crore for the Ockhi disaster. The package is in addition to the Rs 422 crore central government assistance sought earlier as per the guidelines of the National Disaster Relief Fund. The PM is learnt to have promised Vijayan that the Centre would compassionately consider the demand for a special package.
According to an official communication from the state government, the PM agreed to take immediate steps to improve the scientific and communication facilities to predict Ochkilike natural calamities.
Union minister Alphons Kannanthanam, CM Vijayan, BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan were among those who accompanied the prime minister to the fishing hamlet.