Kerala death toll mounts to 154, rescue operations underway

Massive flood triggered by heavy monsoon rains in the southern state of Kerala has turn dreadful as the death toll mounted to 154 in last ten days. A dozen helicopters together with hundreds of defense personnel, NDRF teams, even typical fishermen with their motor boats launched forceful rescue operation on Friday as the rain ceased.

At least six new deaths have been reported on Friday. Even though the intensity of rains decreased in many districts since Friday morning, waters from the big dams in Idukki district unremitted and keep on flowing making 13 districts in red alert only excluding Kasargode.

Waters coming from the Periyar River and its tributaries submerged various towns in Ernakulam and Thrissur. The towns that suffered worst rain and flood include Paravur, Kalady, Chalakudy, Perumbavoor, Muvatupuzha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the flood situation with Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan over the phone on Friday. PM Modi mentioned that he would head to the state later in the day to review the flood situation. CM Vijayan said that there is 2.25 lakh people put up in 1,568 relief camps all over the state.

A catastrophic scene came to view at the moment when thousands of people nestled on high rise buildings waiting to be saved and taken to relief camps. Over 50,000 people are lodged in camps of Ernakulam and Thrissur alone.

The central districts of Pathanamthitta are encountering its most disastrous calamity as the swelling Pamba river has inundated various towns, including Ranni, Kozhenchery is completely inundated.

Relief operations are going on in Malappuram,. About 20,000 camps were set up in Kozhikode and Wayanad.

Kerala is witnessing the heaviest rains and massive floods since 1924 which have caused mammoth destruction with damages to crops and properties estimated to amount thousands of crores.