Live Updates: Rahul Gandhi Distributes Relief Materials In Kerala's Wayanad

The centre needs to pay attention to the situation in southern states and look after the needs. Its an issue for the centre to solve. The states require immediate support, people should be compensated. Both state and central governments should come together to help distressed.

I don't want to politicise the situation, I have put forth the recommendations. This is not a Wayanad issue, its Kerala and Karnataka issue. I'm in Kerala and trying to tackle the flood situation here.

• The Mumbai-Bengaluru National Highway, which was closed since last six days due to flooding, was partially opened for traffic in Maharashtra's Kolhapur district.
• Traffic movement was allowed between Kolhapur and Belgaum in Karnataka through one lane on Shiroli bridge of the six-lane NH-4, where thousands of vehicles were stuck after the busy highway was submerged in flood waters last week.
• "The water level has come down and Shiroli bridge can be used for vehicular movement. We have so far decided to open only one lane on either side of the national highway as a precautionary measure," senior police officer of Kolhapur Abhinav Deshmukh said.
• There was still some water flowing over the bridge, but it was expected to recede as continuous discharge of water from Almatti dam in neighbouring Karnataka was on, an official at the Kolhapur collectorate said.
• Kolhapur and Sangli districts have been battling unprecedented floods since last eight days following heavy rains in Konkan and western parts of Maharashtra where 40 people have lost their lives in the deluge.

• Visual of Rahul Gandhi at a relief camp in Kerala

• According to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, Belagavi district most likely to receive scattered to fairly wide spread with moderate rain for the next 5 days.

• Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is visiting his constituency Wayanad, said the rescue operations are underway but more help is required.
• "I visited Kavalappara, the site of the landslide in Bhoothanam. Several people are still trapped and rescue operations are underway but more help is required immediately," Gandhi tweeted.

• The Daroom Uloom Madrasa opened its doors to the flood-affected people of Kolhapur on August 5. It is providing round the clock relief and essentials to the people from nearby villages, doctors of the Madrasa trust said. 
• "We are a team of 5-6 doctors. All of us are giving four hours of duty. Several people of Shiroli whose homes have been flooded are here. We are doing as much as we can to help," Dr Imtiyaaz told ANI.
• The Madrasa has opened its gate since August 5, when the incessant rains and floods hit Kolhapur.
• 104 teams of different agencies along with 182 boats are in operation in Sangli and Kolhapur districts, according to the Divisional Commissioner's office.
• On Saturday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had visited Kolhapur and Sangli and took stock of the situation.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light to moderate rainfall from today onwards in the five districts of the division. 

• Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD-S leader HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday visited Anemahal village in Hassan district to meet the people affected by the flood.
• He distributed food supplies among people. 

• The Navy on Sunday carried out aerial rescue and relief operations in North Karnataka's Belgaum district, where the floods triggered by rains have thrown normal life out of gear.
• The naval helicopters from Goa's INS Hansa Naval air station rescued 26 stranded citizens and moved them to the relief camps. They also dropped off around 800 kg of food and drinking materials to the areas facing acute shortage of the supplies.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah also undertook an aerial survey of flood-affected areas of Karnataka later in the day.
• Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa briefed Mr Shah about the rescue and relief operations, which are underway in the state and Belgaum district.
• "We have requested for immediate aid of Rs 3,000 crore. The situation is pathetic here as more than 16 districts have been affected very badly. Tomorrow or a day after tomorrow, we will review the situation in other six or seven districts," Mr Yediyurappa said.
• Mr Yediyurappa had also conducted an aerial survey and announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to next of kin of the deceased.
• Karnataka Chief Minister had informed that over two lakh people have been evacuated from flood-affected areas and 1.61 lakh people are in 664 relief camps across the state.
• It was announced that all schools, and colleges -- government and private -- in affected flood-hit districts will remain closed till August 15.
• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had also visited the flood-affected areas in Belgaum.