Kerala floods: The weather department forecast heavy rains until August 15.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh undertakes an aerial survey of flood-hit Kerala today. He is accompanied by Tourism Minister KJ Alphons and senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs. At least 37 people have died in the torrential rain and landslides that have ravaged the southern state since August 8. More than half of the 14 districts in Kerala have been put on high alert because of heavy rains, officials said on Saturday.
Crops on 1,031 hectares (2547.66 acres) have been damaged and 31,000 people have been forced to take shelter in rescue camps, according to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority's (KSDMA) control room in the state capital.
The weather department forecast heavy rains until August 15, Independence Day, also warning of flooding in low-lying coastal areas. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the Arabian Sea.
Here are the LIVE updates of Kerala floods:
He also appealed to all political parties, social & cultural organisations to join hands with the state government to mitigate the sufferings of the people of Kerala.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh announces Rs 100 crore relief for Kerala. He calls the Kerala rains as an "unprecedented crisis".
Home Minister Rajnath Singh conducts the aerial survey of flood affected areas in Kerala. He is accompanied by the Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan and the MoS Tourism Alphons Kannanthanam.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that "State Police, NDRF, Army and other forces are working with the same motive - to help the people of the state. The Prime Minister called us and said that any more help needed, will be provided to us."
Idukki District collector Jeevan Babu told NDTV that, "Natural calamity hasn't happened in Idukki in last 50-100 years. Red alert for Idukki has been issued for next 3 days. Regular communication is being given out to people and the connectivity problem is being fixed by NDRF and Army."
Relief and rescue operation and distribution of medicine and food at camp at Adimali and Idukki by Madras regiment from Pangode Military station in Trivandrum.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrives in Kerala to review the flood situation.
Kerala, which has 44 rivers, witnessed its worst floods in 1924 following torrential rains.
The situation in the hilly district of Wayanad, which has seen massive destruction to crops and properties, on Sunday looked a bit grim with intermittent heavy rains pounding the region.
The district of Idukki recorded 90mm of rain for a period of 24 hours on Saturday morning which receded to 40mm on Sunday morning, according to weather authorities.
The water level in Idukki dam further decreased on Sunday and now stands at 2,399.28 feet, news agency IANS reported.
Officials have taken the unprecedented step of opening the gates of 25 water reservoirs to prevent potentially disastrous breaches.
Crops on 1,031 hectares (2547.66 acres) have been damaged and 31,000 people have been forced to take shelter in rescue camps, according to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority's (KSDMA) control room in the state capital.
More than half of the 14 districts in Kerala have been put on high alert, officials said on Saturday, as the death toll from one of the worst floods in the southern state reached 37.