In the wake of a distress call by some Odia people in flood-hit Kerala, the Odisha government has requested the southern state to provide assistance to 130 labourers from the state in Edapally, official sources said.
The Odisha government's request followed an alert from one Anil Sethi who informed that about 130 labourers from Odisha, who have taken shelter in a house at Aluva Munnar Road, Edapally, near Asha Munnar Post Office, were not able to get food and drinking water.
"I would, therefore, request you to kindly make necessary arrangement for providing support in terms of food, drinking water and other necessities to the flood affected people from Odisha." the state's Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B.P. Sethi said in a letter to P.H. Kurian, Additional Chief Secretary, Disaster Management, Kerala, on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Odisha government on Saturday sent a special team of fire service personnel armed with modern equipment to assist in rescue and relief operations in flood-ravaged Kerala as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik voiced concern over the calamity. "Expressing concern over #KeralaFloods, CM @Naveen_Odisha pressed in to assisting rescue ops an Odisha contigent of 245 fire personnel, led by the Chief Fire Officer," the Chief Minister's Office tweeted.
Trained and experienced in flood rescue, the team including 225 fire service personnel, 15 supervisors and other officers left for Kerala in a special aircraft of Indian Air Force (IAF) carrying 75 power boats and state-of-the-art equipment, said an official.
The team also carried underwater equipment, 10 tower lights, power saws, solar search lights, tents, 137 life buoy, 31 lifelines, 30 sleeping mats and other sophisticated gadgets to carry out rescue work, he said.
The state government decided to send the team to Kerala following a request from the Centre, said Director General of Fire Service & Commandant General, Home Guards & Director Civil Defence, B K Sharma, who flagged off the team.
Describing it as a moment of pride for the Odisha Fire Service, he said our fire service personnel had earned praise for their commendable job in the relief and rescue operations in Andhra Pradesh during Cyclone Hudhud.
Another four-member team has also been sent to Kerala to facilitate the rescue of these marooned people from Odisha, said state Labour Minister Sushant Singh.
The Odisha government also set up helplines in the special relief commissioner's office here to help the people in distress.
Any person from Odisha who has been affected may call up through the helpline numbers 1070 (toll free) and 0674-2534177, an official release said.
When contacted over phone, Anil Sethi said, "We are virtually starving and even not in possession of a drop of water to drink. Therefore, we appeal both the governments of Odisha and Kerala to make arrangement for our survival."
The Odisha government has already announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 crore for flood-ravaged Kerala.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also talked to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan over phone about the situation.
Patnaik also offered other kind of support required to tackle the calamity, as Odisha has expertise in dealing with disasters like flood and cyclone.
Patnaik had also spoken to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan over telephone and had also offered any other kind of support required to tackle the calamity.