By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : Heavy rains in north Kerala have killed eight people, destroyed crops and caused damages worth Rs.19 crore (Rs.190 million) in the past two days, state Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran said Thursday.
Heavy monsoon rains have affected life in northern districts of Wayanad, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Malappuram.
“A total of 5,000 homes have been partially damaged while 1,300 homes have been fully destroyed. Crops on more than 4,500 acres of land have been destroyed and the total damages have been roughly estimated to be at Rs.19 crore,” Rajendran told reporters.
Rajendran said that a 64-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been split into two teams for rescue work at the affected places.
He also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs.1 lakh for the families of each of those killed by rains.
Minister of State for Home Mulapally Ramachandran said in New Delhi that another 64-member NDRF team will be dispatched to the state to speed up the relief work.