By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, August 16, 2018: Odisha government on Thursday announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 crore for flood-ravaged Kerala, where the death toll has gone up to 75 in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8.

An official release said, Patnaik spoke to Kerala chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, over telephone following which the financial aid was announced.

Patnaik also offered any other kind of support required to tackle the calamity, as Odisha has expertise in dealing with disasters like flood and cyclone, it said.

Describing the situation in the state as “extremely grave”, Vijayan also spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh this morning, seeking more Central assistance for relief operations.

Heavy rains continue to batter most parts of Kerala, especially where several people, including children and elderly, are trapped in their houses.