Kerala rain havoc: Govt announces ₹8-lakh aid for kin of each deceased
Death toll from rain-related incidents rises to 26; four still missing, says Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan
On August 5, 2026, the Kerala Cabinet revealed an eight lakh rupee financial aid package to the families of those killed in recent torrential rains and floods. As of the briefing in Thiruvananthapuram, the death toll had risen to 26, with four individuals still missing. Over 27,048 individuals were housed in 462 relief camps, with Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, and Alappuzha districts bearing the brunt.
The government decided to raise compensation for fully damaged houses from four lakh rupees to six lakh rupees and for losses involving both land and houses, from ten lakh rupees to twelve lakh rupees. The ₹8 lakh allocated for kin of the deceased would be sourced from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF), and Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
Preliminary estimates suggest farm sector losses of ₹67.44 crore, affecting 1,882 hectares and 23,537 farmers. The Cabinet also increased crop loss compensation by 25%, deeming the current amount insufficient. In addition to these measures, each resident of waterlogged houses received ₹10,000, with final disbursement pending village officer inspection.
Shops sustaining flood damage would also receive ₹10,000 each. A new proposal includes the Ujjeevana soft loan scheme for MSMEs and other small businesses, providing up to ₹12 lakh bank loans. The government also honored R. Rajesh, a swimming instructor who died rescuing a man during the floods, offering state honors, assistance for house construction, and other support measures to aid recovery.
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