Thiruvananthapuram: Congress President Rahul Gandhi today paid a visit to Kerala after a tour to European countries. The state of Kerala is as of now struggling to come to the terms with normal life disrupted as floodwaters slowly recede. Almost 500 people were declared dead after the Century’s worst monsoon.  The tragedy of floods occurred when water was released from more than 20 dams.

The visit was announced over Twitter yesterday by Mr. Gandhi and today he went to meet people who are living in relief camps of Chengannur, Ernakulam, and Alapuzha. These three districts were reported to be the worst hit in the incident of floods in the state of Kerala. There are total 14 districts in the state of Kerala out of which 13 were hit by the floods, forcing more than 13 lakh people to migrate and stay in relief camps. Many of them were waiting for help by staying on rooftops for many days.

Mr. Gandhi felicitated local fishermen in the district of Alappuzha who played a crucial role in saving many lives during the rescue efforts. Mr. Gandhi commented on their effort and said,”3000 fishermen saved 70,000 people. This is not a small thing, it is a huge deal. I want to say thank you to you”.

He said that once his party gains power at the Centre, he will create a “ministry of fishermen” exclusively to serve the fishermen lot of this country.

“I don’t like to make fake promises. You can take this as a commitment… If farmers have built this country, fishermen also have helped to build this country,” said the Congress chief, whose party was voted out of power in the last assembly elections held in the state.

Mr. Gandhi also visited the relief camp at the Christian College and an engineering college of Chengannur. He spoke to various people at both the centers there.

For the past some weeks, Mr. Gandhi had been tweeting at different times to express solidarity with the Kerala people after they went through their ordeal. In one of his tweets, he went to say the Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to declare the floods as a national disaster.

Mr. Gandhi said in a tweet after the Centre announced an interim relief of Rs. 500 crores, “Please declare Kerala floods a national disaster without any delay. The lives, livelihood and future of millions of our people are at stake. Please do not vacillate as the people of Kerala are suffering.”

He also made it sure that his party workers help out the people of Kerala with the relief and rescue efforts.

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