AGARTALA, Aug 22 (TIWN): After Tripura Ex-CM Manik Sarkar had kicked off the donation collection for flood hit Kerala on Tuesday, on Wednesday (Day-2) the journey had begun with Party Secretary Bijan Dhar from HGB road.

Till yesterday around Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 50,000 were collected, it has been said by CPI-M locals to media persons.

The collection which began from yesterday will be continued till August 31st. The opposition party has sought common people’s help to overcome the disaster which claimed over 370 lives at there.

On the other side, Govt of Tripura has announced Rs. 1 crore for Kerala flood victims on Monday.

On the background of the donation collection, CPI-M State Secretary Bijan Dhar said, "We do not know whether we would be able to collect funds in the state as a massive political violence has been unleashed by the ruling BJP activists to destroy the democratic activities of the opposition parties. Everyday, two-to-three attacks are being carried out on the opposition parties, especially the Left parties”.

The death toll stands at 370, from May 29 when Kerala got the first of the monsoon rains, with the bulk of the fatalities being reported after August 9.