Kerala to send bleaching power, gloves to Chennai

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala government will be sending 1000 kg of bleaching power and 1000 gloves to Chennai on Monday for relief work.

This was on request from Tamil Nadu government in view of the possibility of a public health crisis as the flood waters recede.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had earlier written to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister expressing the States willingness to send medicines and medical teams. Kerala, he said, was pained by the floods in Chennai and would be sending more help when Tamil Nadu specifies its requirements.

Kerala’s Health Secretary E. Elankovan was already in Chennai to coordinate relief activities. The Office of Department of Non-resident Keralites’ Affairs in Chennai was functioning day and night. The control room in the office had handled about 3000 telephone calls during the past few days.

Mr. Chandy said that 12 KSRTC buses had been operating services from Chennai since Saturday. About 620 persons could be transported free of charge to Kerala on Saturday and 637 persons on Sunday. More services would be offered in the coming days, if necessary. The passengers were being given bread and water on the buses.

He said that that the KSRTC buses had carried 1.5 lakh chappathi kits made in the Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur jails and other relief materials contributed by people to Chennai.

The following were the contact numbers respectively of KSRTC and NORKA: 9388739746, 7899442120 and 9444186238, 04428293020.

Floods and a dangerous journey in Chennai