As floodwaters gradually recede across several parts of Kerala, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rain and strong winds over the next five days, prompting the state government on Wednesday to announce an extensive relief package for flood victims along with a long-term disaster resilience programme.
Addressing the media after the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister VD Satheesan said 26 people have died, 11 were injured, and four remain missing in rain-related incidents this year.
Kerala CM VD Satheesan (@vdsatheesan) posts, “Key Cabinet Decisions: Emergency Relief & Rehabilitation Packages for Rain & Flood Mitigation To support citizens affected by the recent heavy rainfall and natural calamities, the Cabinet has sanctioned a comprehensive disaster… pic.twitter.com/YjMOG3Mo5Z
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 5, 2026
He said 27,048 people are currently staying in 462 relief camps, with the government ensuring that no camp accommodates more than 150 people to improve living conditions, news agency IANS reported.
Preliminary assessments show that 1,882 hectares of agricultural land have been damaged, resulting in estimated losses of Rs 67 crore and affecting 23,507 farmers.
The cabinet approved a series of enhanced relief measures. Families of those killed will receive Rs 8 lakh as compensation, while families whose homes were inundated will be provided Rs 10,000 as immediate assistance. An additional Rs 10,000 will be given towards funeral expenses.
Compensation for completely destroyed houses has been increased to Rs 12 lakh, while crop compensation will be enhanced by 25 per cent.
Flood-hit traders and MSMEs to receive financial assistance
In a first for the state, small traders and shop owners affected by the floods will receive Rs 10,000 each.
The cabinet also approved a special rehabilitation package for MSMEs, homestays and other eligible enterprises, offering soft loans of up to Rs 12 lakh. Beneficiaries can either avail government-funded margin money covering 25 per cent of the loan amount, subject to a ceiling of Rs 3 lakh, or opt for a nine per cent interest subsidy for five years.
Following the India Meteorological Department’s forecast of heavy rainfall and strong winds in parts of Kerala between August 5 and 8, Satheesan urged people to remain vigilant and strictly follow official advisories.
Looking beyond immediate relief, the government announced a Disaster Management Resilience Programme that will use AI-driven dam management, advanced climate prediction, flood mapping and scientific monitoring to strengthen disaster preparedness.
Rivers and reservoirs will also be desilted, including the removal of sediment deposited after the 2018 floods, to improve water flow ahead of the next monsoon.
The Chief Minister said the AI-based dam management system, announced in the State Budget, would become a national model for disaster management.
CM Satheesan announces state funeral for flood rescue volunteer Rajesh
The cabinet also decided to restore damaged coastal infrastructure and formulate a new housing scheme for fishermen.
Further, it approved the release of the first instalment of the 2026-27 development fund for local bodies.
Satheesan announced that Rajesh, the scuba diver and veteran rescue volunteer who died during flood rescue operations, would be accorded a state funeral. The government will also complete and hand over a house to his family.
He further said compensation had been disbursed to the families of all 248 victims of the 2024 Thrissur flood disaster.
Responding to questions on the Punarjani project controversy, Satheesan maintained that multiple investigations, including successive Vigilance probes and an FCRA-related inquiry, had found no evidence of corruption, with the latest Vigilance report, submitted on June 26, recommending that no further action be taken.
“It was I who sought a probe when this first surfaced in 2020. Two separate Vigilance probes had cleared me, and both took place when I was in the opposition,” Satheesan said.
(With IANS and PTI inputs)
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