Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala has been facing one of the most savage rainfalls in the state in a century. Everyone, from ordinary citizens to celebrities are joining hands and pitching in to help in relief and rescue efforts in the state. So far, the disaster has led to the death of 324 people and has left over 2 lakh people homeless.

Amid all these chaos, Kerala Forest and Wildlife Minister K Raju of the CPI left the country to attend the 11th Global Conference organised by the World Malayalee Council in Bayern, Germany from August 17 to 19. On the other hand, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who was scheduled to leave for the United States for treatment, cancelled his trip in order to help coordinate the relief and rescue efforts in the devastated state.

Minister Raju was called back by his party’s state leadership after having faced backlash over his departure from the country. Sources say that the minister will arrive in Kerala in a couple of days’ time. 

 

Raju, who represents Punalur Assembly Constituency, was assigned to look after the rescue operations in Kottayam where low lying areas exist near Kumarakom.