Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi cancels his plans to take an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas of Kerala. He had set out to take stock of the rescue operations in army choppers along with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Minister Alphonse Kannanthanam, but had to call off the flight due to bad weather conditions.
Prime Minister had reached the capital city last night, and was expected to conduct a detailed aerial survey from 8 till 9.30 in the morning. Choppers were scheduled to fly over the havoc-struck areas of Ranni, Chengannur, Aluva, Pathanamthitta and Chalakkudi, but had to be cancelled at the last moment.
As the weather condition worsens, airlift attempts are also facing a severe backlash. Many areas including Chengannur where ten thousands of people are stranded without basic amenities are badly water logged, wiping off all the chances of rescue via fibre or fishing boats. Elected representative of the locale had met the press yesterday to assert that airlift is the only rescue method possible here.
As weather conditions are not suitable at the moment, all such attempts are suspended right now. Choppers cannot find routes, adding to the agony of the affected people. It is expected that the adverse conditions can be tackled at the earliest.