Thiruvananthapuram: Kollywood actor and politician Kamal Haasan has decided to donate Rs 25 lakh for relief work in Kerala that has been pounded by heavy torrential rains since the past few days. On Haasan's request, the famous Tamil channel Vijay TV has also agreed to contribute Rs 25 lakh to the chief minister's distress relief fund (CMDRF). 

The chief minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, thanked Haasan for the gesture. Haasan has also appealed to the workers of his party, Makkal Needhi Maiam, and his fans to contribute generously to the CMDRF. 
 
There was a brief let-up in the downpour on August 11 in Kerala, but the government remained on high alert with more rains forecast, even as the toll in the monsoon fury climbed to 37.
 
Tamil actors Suriya and brother Karthi have also contributed Rs 25 lakh to the CMDRF. 
 
Several Malayalam film personalities have appealed to the public to donate to the CMDRF. Actors Mammootty and Mohanlal shared the appeal through their social media pages. 
 
Mammootty visited the rehabilitation camp at Puthenvelikkara in Ernakulam on the evening of August 11 and interacted with the people there. Mohanlal also shared the visuals of the territorial army battalion engaging in relief operations on his Facebook page. 
 
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh began an aerial survey of flood-hit Kerala on today to take stock of the situation