As Kerala Slowly Rebuilds After Its Worst Flood In 100 Years, CM Vijayan Heads To US For Treatment  

Just days after water started receding from the flooded areas in Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will be heading to the United States for his medical treatment on Monday, The New Indian Express has reported.

Vijayan, who was scheduled to travel to the US last month, had delayed his trip due to the devastating floods in Kerala.

Vijayan will be undergoing treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The treatment is expected to take at least two to three weeks.

The Chief Minister called on Governor P Sathasivam on Saturday and briefed him about his plan to travel abroad for treatment. He also provided details on the rehabilitation work initiated by the government for rebuilding the state in the aftermath of what has been described as the ‘flood of the century’.

No order has been issued on handing over the charge to any minister during the chief minister’s US trip. It is understood that E P Jayarajan, a trusted lieutenant of Vijayan, is likely to chair cabinet meetings in his absence.

Vijayan will be accompanied by his wife Kamala and the state government will likely bear the expenses. Vijayan had been to the US earlier last month on a 13-day visit during which he had reportedly undergone treatment at the same clinic. During the trip last month, he received an award for the steps his government took to control the Nipah virus. He also attended a meeting of Federations of Kerala Associations in North America at Philadelphia.

In March this year, Vijayan was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai when he was visiting the metropolitan city. Back then, the state government had said that it was a routine check up.

Mayo Clinic is a favourite of sorts with Indian politicians and VIPs. In 2015, then Defence Minister A K Antony had a health check up at Mayo. In 2016, Kerala Assembly speaker G Karthikeyan underwent treatment for cancer. During the same year, Tamil cinema superstar Rajnikanth, too, was treated for a kidney ailment at the institute.