Kerala rain havoc: Cabinet approves ₹8 lakh aid for kin of deceased, death toll 26
The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday (August 5, 2026) announced financial assistance of ₹8 lakh each to the families of those killed in the torrential rainfall and floods that have affected large parts of the State over the past week. The decision was announced by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan after a post-Cabinet briefing in Thiruvananthapuram.
The death toll has climbed to 26, with four persons still reported missing. According to the Chief Minister, 27,048 people are currently lodged in 462 relief camps across the affected districts. The highest number of camps are in Pathanamthitta (157), followed by Kottayam (154) and Alappuzha (81).
As part of the relief measures, the Cabinet increased compensation for ‘fully damaged’ houses from ₹4 lakh to ₹6 lakh. For those who lost both land and house, the compensation has been raised from ₹10 lakh to ₹12 lakh. The ₹8 lakh announced for the kin of each deceased will be drawn from three sources: ₹4 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), ₹2 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF), and ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
A preliminary assessment has estimated losses to the State’s farm sector at ₹67.44 crore. Crop damage has been reported on 1,882 hectares, affecting 23,537 farmers. The Chief Minister noted that the final figures are likely to be slightly higher. To address the impact, the Cabinet decided to increase the per-hectare compensation for crop loss by 25%, as the current amount was described as “very low.”
In addition to these measures, the government announced ₹10,000 each to residents of waterlogged houses, regardless of whether they are staying in relief camps. The assistance will be disbursed after inspection by village officers or government officials. Shops that sustained damage in the floods will also receive ₹10,000 each. Chief Minister Satheesan noted that this is a new proposal that was not implemented even during the 2018 and 2019 floods. The government will also provide ₹10,000 for performing the final rites of the victims.
The Chief Minister also unveiled the Ujjeevana soft loan scheme to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and other small businesses affected by the rain havoc. The scheme facilitates bank loans of up to ₹12 lakh through three options. In the first option, the government will pay ‘margin money’ to the bank equivalent to 25% of the loan amount, capped at ₹3 lakh. Alternatively, if the applicant does not opt for this, the government will pay 9% interest on the loan to the bank for five years. The third option is available to those who had taken bank loans before the disaster and are finding repayment difficult.
In a separate decision, the government announced that R. Rajesh, a swimming instructor who died while attempting to rescue a 61-year-old man during flash floods in Kannur, will be accorded State honours. Rajesh, a native of Kalliyoor in Thiruvananthapuram, was recovered on Tuesday. The government will also provide assistance to complete the construction of his house, the Chief Minister said.
