Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a relief package of Rs 325 crore for Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep – the regions affected by Cyclone Ockhi, ANI reported. He also met families affected by the storm in Kerala’s Poonthura, a suburb of the state capital Thiruvanathapuram.
Modi said the Centre would do “everything possible” to locate those still missing. “The government of India is with you in every way,” he said. “Our rescue efforts will never fall short. We pray that all those missing can return home before Christmas.”
“Some of our people are stranded in foreign countries,” Modi said, according to PTI. “The Ministry of External Affairs and various embassies are working to bring them back. Some people also got stranded in parts of India’s western coast. We have rescued many of them.”
The prime minister held meetings with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami and the administration of the Lakshadweep Islands. Palaniswami presented a memorandum seeking Rs 9,302 crore in aid, while Vijayan sought Rs 7,340 crore to rehabilitate people and rebuild cyclone-affected villages in coastal Kerala.
The Centre will also help reconstruct 1,400 damaged houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, ANI reported.
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