Rahul seeks increase in Army, Navy deployment in flood-hit Kerala

New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS) Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Kerala floods and requested for a "massive increase" in the number of armed personnel deployed there to assist in rescue and relief as the death toll reached 87.

"Kerala is in great pain…requested Prime Minister to massively increase deployment of the Army and Navy. I said that it is critical that he gives the state special financial assistance as this is a tragedy without parallel in Kerala’s history," Gandhi tweeted.

The deadly deluge in Kerala that started on August 8, continued to take its toll on life and property with a red alert issued throughout the state since Wednesday.

The Centre has deployed all three wings of the armed forces as a massive rescue and rehabilitation operation is underway.