Kerala flood: Heavy rain led to floods and evacuation from flooded regions in boats
Sixty-seven people are dead in the Kerala flood, 25 in just the last 24 hours as the rain fury continues. A red alert on Kerala weather was issued across the state in what has turned out to be the state's worst monsoon in almost a century. The Kerala rain has also forced the administration to shut down the Kochi airport, the state's busiest, as it braces for more rain. The army, the navy, the NDRF and other forces are on a war-footing with the rescue and relief operations. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday sent an SOS to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and his counterpart in Tamil Nadu E Palaniswami on the rising water level in the Mullaperiyar Dam.
Here are the updates on Kerala floods and weather:
More than 25 trains were cancelled or rescheduled in Kerala today in view of the unprecedented floods and landslides in the state, the Southern Railway said today.
30 people have died today as of now in the floods taking the death toll to 97.
The Kochi international airport will remain closed for operation till August 26 morning in the wake of torrential rains, the Civil Aviation Ministry today said. Kochi airport has been hit by incessant rains which have wreaked havoc in Kerala. According to an earlier announcement, operations at the airport had been suspended up to the afternoon of August 16.
With massive rains continuing to bombard Kerala, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi has announced that her organisation will donate Rs. 10 crores to the Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund.
Kerala flood toll hits 86 in 'extremely grave' crisis: officials told news agency AFP
23 more disaster relief teams have been sent to Kerala reported PTI.
Authorities told AFP many people were trapped inside their houses. More than 60,000 people have sought refuge in relief camps.
State authorities said the confirmed death toll was 72 but officials and media reports said up to 30 more people were feared dead Thursday in landslides and as rivers burst their banks, flooding scores of villages.
Cochin airport has been flooded as well. Here are some pictures:
Rescue operations carried out with help of 44 Army & Navy boats and more than 20 naval diving teams. Additional 20 boats have been rushed to flood hit Kerala.
Request of Kerala for additional resources like motorized and non-motorized boats, life jackets, raincoats, gumboots etc, catered to on priority.
A number of helicopters have been deployed for relief operations. More than 340 passengers and 14.5 T load has been carried by IAF aircrafts.
Road connectivity restored at 18 locations including construction of 11 temporary bridges by Army columns, defence spokesperson confirmed on Twitter.
Rescue operations are on in Kerala with a number of helicopters helping in the evacuation. Watch here:
45 persons stranded due to incessant rains were rescued from Machilipatnam by three teams of Indian Navy deployed at Perumbavoor, yesterday.
Supreme Court says both Kerala and Tamil Nadu must work together in harmony to fight the floods. The top court also directed the centre to convene a meeting of National Crisis Management committee. It is to meet tomorrow. The top court also directed the panel to consider reducing water level from 142 ft to 139 ft so that people living downstream don't live in fear.
The Indian Navy tweeted: Relief camp set up at aircraft hanger, INS Garuda, Kochi and flood affected people who are being airlifted are being housed here
Besides the Army, Navy and the Indian Air Force, the Coast Guard and the National Disaster Response Force have been asked to mobilise additional personnel, boats and helicopters to scale up the rescue and relief operations.
The Supreme Court has called as "grave" the flood situation in Kerala, and told the states and the centre not to treat the issue as "adversarial", news agency Press Trust of India reported.
Food packets and drinking water are being rushed to Kerala for distribution among the people in 14 worst affected districts, while additional NDRF teams are also being sent to the state to assist the local administration in operations.
Kerala floods: 12 more teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) - six from Delhi and six from Gandhinagar - are being airlifted to Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. 18 teams are already deployed in the state.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced assistance of Rs 5 crore for relief and restoration of the damage caused by floods in Kerala and expressed solidarity with those affected by the extreme weather event.
The centre has launched massive rescue and relief operations in Kerala. The cabinet secretary has chaired a high-level meeting on the Prime Minister's instructions. The army, navy and the air force, the Coast Guard and the NDRF have been asked to mobilise additional personnel, boats and helicopters to scale up the rescue and relief operations. Food packets and drinking water are also being rushed. The chairman of the Central Water Commission is monitoring the situation at Mullaperiyar dam in view of rising water level and continued heavy inflow.
Kerala floods: Indo-Tibetan Border Police jawans rescue senior citizens in flood affected Thrissur district's Arattupuzha village
Kerala floods: "Kerala is in great pain. I spoke to PM and requested him to massively increase deployment of the Army and Navy. I also said that it is critical that he gives the state special financial assistance as this is a tragedy without parallel in Kerala's history," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
Kerala floods: "A Control Room has been set up at DGCA Headquarters, New Delhi, which is being manned 24x7 since 15th August, 2018 night to address issues due to suspension of flight operations to/from Cochin airport. We are constantly monitoring the situation and taking all necessary actions," union minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted.
Kerala floods: "Very serious situation is prevailing in the state as nearly all villages are flood affected. I had a telephonic conversation with PM Modi, Home Minister and Defence Minister, they have offered all support. More helicopters to be deployed soon," Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.
"The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the domestic airlines will be extending full support to the State Government of Kerala in airlifting food items and other relief material free of cost on their scheduled services, subject only to operational constraints, if any," union minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted.
Kerala floods: Two children die in wall collapse in Oorkadavu, heavy rain continues in Kozhikode district.
Kerala floods: An Indian Air Force helicopter airlifts a person in flood-affected Pathanamthitta district of Kerala
Kerala: Five people were killed in a landslide in Palakkad district of Kerala today even as torrential rains led to the collapse of the public transport system in many parts of the state with the southern Railways and Kochi Metro suspending operations.
Kerala floods: "Heavy to very heavy rain at a few places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places very likely over Coastal Karnataka; heavy rain at a few places with very heavy rain at isolated places very likely over Kerala," the India Meteorological Department has said.
Kerala floods: Column of 13 Garhwal Rifle rescued 23 civilians from HIL colony in Eloor, Ernakulam district. The column used ingenuity and modified tubes and utensils to rescue people.
Kerala floods: National Disaster Response Force evacuated 926 people to safer place so far at Pathamithitta, Kozzhikode, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Alappuzha.
Kerala floods: Visuals of waterlogging in parts of Kochi; Metro train services have been suspended as water level rises in Muttom metro yard area.
Kerala floods: "Had a telephonic conversation with Kerala Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan regrading the prevailing flood situation in the state. The Centre is rushing additional NDRF teams to Kerala. We are providing all possible assistance. I am in constant touch with Kerala CM," Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted.
Kerala floods: 82 tourists stranded inside a bus in Munnar. All routes are either flooded, or blocked due to mudslides, news agency ANI reported.
Kerala floods: The Kerala chief minister has requested for more boats. "Have instructed Def. Secretary to respond immediately. Awaiting the list from Chief Secretary, Kerala. There shall be no delay from our side. Additional Indian Air Force helicopters being deployed," Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted.
Kerala floods: Army built a 35-feet-long bridge and rescued 100 people, including children and senior citizens, from Malampuzha's Valiyakadu village
Kerala floods: "Spoke to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan again this morning. We discussed the flood situation in the state. Have asked Defence Ministry to further step up the rescue and relief operations across the state. Praying for the safety and well-being of the people of Kerala," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
Kerala floods: Due to heavy rain, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation bus services stopped from Chamarajanagar district for Tamil Nadu's Ooty and Kerala's Kochi.
Kerala floods: "Considering the current situation in Kochi, we've extended the waiver on penalties for date/flight change, refund, no-show and fare difference if any, on all confirmed tickets for flights operating to and from Kochi up to 18th August 2018," Jet Airways said in a statement.
Kerala flood: Water level in Mullaperiyar dam at 142 feet as rain continues to hit the southern state.
Kerala floods: The Southern Naval Command has suspended all routine training activities and has shifted to highest of readiness to help flood-affected Kerala. It has mobilised all available resources for rescue and relief efforts in Ernakulam and Trichur.
Kerala floods: Landslides have been reported from several parts of Kerala. Relief workers camps are working round the clock to keep camps running smoothly.
Kerala floods: Rain continues to lash Kerala; Visuals from Alappuzha district's Mavelikara. Till now 67 people have lost their lives caused by flooding due to heavy and incessant rains in the state.
Kerala floods: On the seventh day of Operation Madad, Southern Naval Command deployed 21 rescue and diving teams with Gemini boats in flood-hit Kerala as the monsoon has intensified in the state.
While a red alert was sounded in 11 of the 14 Kerala districts, including Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Pathanamthitta, Kannur and Ernakulam, by Wednesday afternoon, it was extended across the state by the evening hours on Wednesday.
Kerala floods: Water level in Achankoil river at Alappuzha's Kollakadavu rises as heavy rainfall continues to lash the state.
"Due to rise in water level at Bridge No 176 on Downline between Angamali and Aluva, The services on this bridge is suspended," a Southern railway spokesman said in a statement early today.
The Kochi Metro has stopped its services from this morning after its yard in Muttom near Aluva submerged in the flood waters. "Kochi Metro train operation is suspended as the water level rises in Muttom yard area," a Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) statement said.
The service will be resumed once the water comes down and the systems are back in good condition, its spokesperson said.