Centre keeps eye on disease outbreak

New Delhi: The Centre has set up 3,757 medical camps in flood-battered Kerala to prevent epidemic diseases even though no outbreak of any communicable disease has been reported there so far, the Health Ministry said on Sunday. “While no outbreak of any communicable disease has been reported, health experts opine that once floodwaters start to recede, the environment will become conducive for epidemic diseases. The state has been asked for daily surveillance to detect early warning signs of any outbreak,” a ministry statement said. "We are extending all support. The Health Secretary is in touch with the state’s health functionaries and monitoring the situation daily through the disease surveillance network," Health Minister JP Nadda said. tNS

Amid grief, a wedding in relief camp 

Malappuram: Even as Kerala battles the worst flooding in 96 years, a young couple taking shelter in a relief camp in Malappuram district got married on Sunday —- cheered by others also sheltering with them. Anju, who had moved into the MSP School near here three days ago, tied the knot with Saiju at the Thiripunthra temple, watched by her relatives and others from the relief camp. “Three fourths of our house is submerged in water. Initially,  we decided to postpone the marriage. But when we got the support of the people here, we decided to go ahead as planned,” a relative of the bride said. IANS

UAE-based tycoons pledge Rs 125 million

Dubai: Indian-origin businessmen based in the UAE have announced Rs 125-million donation for flood relief operations. Kerala-born businessman Yusuff Ali MA, CMD of Lulu Group, has announced Rs 50 million for the rain-hit state, Khaleej Times reported. KP Hussain, chairman of Fathima Healthcare Group, has donated Rs 50 million. BR Shetty, chairman of Unimoni and UAE Exchange, had pledged Rs 20 million. Azad Moopen, Indian physician and philanthropist and founder CMD of Aster DM Healthcare, pledged Rs 5 million. PTI