NEW DELHI, Aug 19: Expressing solidarity with the people of Kerala who have been hit by catastrophic floods caused by the monsoon, the Indian Journalists’ Union (IJU) urged the Centre to declare a national disaster.
It said that Rs 500 crore announced by the prime minister is not sufficient in dealing with the unprecedented suffering of the people of Kerala.
The IJU acknowledged the efforts the Indian Air Force, Navy and the Coast Guard and legions of rescue personnel, to get all the stranded people to safety. It also commended the outpouring of goodwill and support from across the country and even abroad.
It appealed to governments, NGOs, journalist unions, media employees and all other organizations to come out to help the marooned people of Kerala by sending relief materials and extending other forms of help.
The IJU also acknowledged the role played by media in covering and handing the disaster.
“The IJU commends the media for coordinating the rescue operations directly interacting with the affected people,” it said, and mourned the death of Mathroobhumi reporter Saji, of Kottayam, who tragically died while rescuing a person.
