Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday visited relief camps in Chengannur and Alappuzha districts of flood-hit Kerala. Gandhi arrived in the state from the United Kingdom. He will also visit a few camps in Ernakulam district later in the day, reported PTI.

Gandhi attended the felicitation of fishermen involved with rescue operations at the Camelot Convention Centre in Alappuzha. He said that a “ministry of fishermen” would be formed once the Congress comes to power in the Centre, reported NDTV. “I don’t like to make fake promises,” he said. “You can take this as a commitment... If farmers have built this country, fishermen also have helped to build this country.”

He will spend two days in the state and will visit Wayanad and Kozhikode districts on Wednesday. At least 302 people died in the floods that have ravaged the state since August 8.

Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor received the Congress chief on his arrival and said Gandhi will visit the districts that have been most flooded. In Chengannur, Gandhi spoke to people at relief camps in the Christian College and in the College of Engineering. Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala and Congress state unit president MM Hassan were among those present.

At least 474 people died in rain-related incidents and floods since May 29 when the southwest monsoon set over Kerala, reported PTI quoting data released by the Disaster Management’s state control room on Tuesday.

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