Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches flood-hit Kerala; state to urge declaration of national calamity

The state is expected to urge the Prime Minister to declare this catastrophe as a national calamity and will seek major support from the Prime Minister.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan receiving Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Thiruvananthapuram on Friday night. (Photo | EPS/BP Deepu)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a visit to Kerala to assess the flood situation, reached the state capital at 11 pm.

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He was received at the technical area of the Thiruvananthapuram international Airport by Governor P Sathasivam, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala, state ministers, BJP state president PS Sreedharan Pillai and others.

Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Kerala to take stock of the flood situation in the state; received by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala Governor P Sathasivam and Union Tourism Minister KJ Alphons pic.twitter.com/fAW9D2KCPE
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018

The Prime Minister will be staying at the Rajbhavan for the night and will leave by 6.45 am in the morning to the flood-affected areas. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan is likely to accompany the Prime Minister. However a detailed discussion between the Prime Minister and Chief Minister will take place at Kochi tomorrow morning at 8.45 am, state government officials indicated.

The state is expected to urge the Prime Minister to declare this catastrophe as a National calamity and will seek major support from the Prime Minister. The Prime minister will be travelling back to Delhi by 10.30 am from Kochi.