Kerala floods: Damaged passports can be replaced free of cost

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj | AFP External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj | AFP

As Kerala is battling flash floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains for the last few days, help pours in from across the country.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also took a compassionate view and said the passports which were damaged due to flood would be replaced free of charge. She asked those whose passports were damaged to contact the authorities.

“There are unprecedented floods in Kerala causing huge damage. We have decided that as the situation becomes normal, passports damaged on account floods shall be replaced free of charge. Please contact the concerned Passport Kendras,” she tweeted on Saturday.

Usually, a fee is charged for reissuing a damaged or lost passport.

Meanwhile, rescue and relief operations are underway in full swing in flood-hit Kerala even as water levels in the Idukki and Idamalayar reservoirs have reduced. There were no fresh casualties reported since Friday and the toll in the rain-related incidents stood at 37.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in Idukki and Ernakulam districts.

More than 60,000 people have been accommodated in relief camps set up in different districts of the state.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had on Friday warned that heavy to very heavy rains were expected in 16 states, including Kerala.

TAGS