Kerala floods: Toll 324, thousands homeless as more rain expected

THE worst floods in a century in the south Indian state of Kerala have killed more than 300 people and forced more than 220,000 into relief camps, officials said today (17), with more misery expected as heavy rain pushed water levels higher.

Prime minister Narendra Modi is due to visit the state later today and its chief minister said he was hoping the military could step up help for the rescue effort, which is already using dozens of helicopters and hundreds of boats.

"I spoke to the defence minister this morning and asked for more helicopters," chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan told a news conference in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram, adding that he planned to send 11 more helicopters to the worst-hit places.

"In some areas, airlifting is the only option ... thousands are still marooned," said Vijayan.

The floods began nine days ago and Vijayan said 324 people had been killed - some in landslides - with about 223,000 people forced into 1,568 relief camps.

“Kerala is facing its worst flood in 100 years. 80 dams opened, 324 lives lost and 223139 people are in about 1500+ relief camps,” Vijayan tweeted, adding, “For the people of Kerala, the road to recovery is going to be a long one.”

With thousands still trapped, power and communication lines down and fresh alerts of further torrential rain, authorities warned of even more trouble ahead.

More than 30 military helicopters and 320 boats are attempting rescues across Kerala. Additional troops have been sent in and local fishermen also joined the operation with their boats.

Idukki, a hilly district in central Kerala - which since June 1 has been one of many areas now virtually cut off, has seen more than 321 centimetres (126 inches) of rain, according to the India Meteorological Department.

The floods have risen in the past 10 days. And with no end in sight to the deluge, people all over the state of 33 million people have made panic-stricken appeals on social media for help, saying they cannot get through to rescue services.

A witness on board a relief helicopter in Chengannur town in the south of the state said people stranded on roof tops were seen waving desperately at navy aircraft.

"The town looked like an island dotted with houses and cars submerged in muddy flood waters and downed coconut trees," said the witness.

Two navy helicopters circled as people on roofs of flooded homes waved clothing to call for help.

The helicopters dropped food and water in metal baskets and airlifted at least four people, including a three-year-old child, from roofs, the witness said.

Elsewhere, a man with a cast on his leg was seen lying on the roof of a church as he awaited rescue.

Anil Vasudevan, the head of the Kerala health disaster response wing, said his department had geared up to handle the needs of victims.

"We've deployed adequate doctors and staff and provided all essential medicines in the relief camps, where the evacuees will be housed," he said.

But a big worry was what happens after the flood waters fall. People going home will be susceptible to water-borne diseases, he said.

"We are making elaborate arrangements to deal with that," he said.

Kerala is a major destination for both domestic and foreign tourists.

The airport in its main commercial city of Kochi has been flooded it has suspended operations until August 26 with flights being diverted to two other airports in the state. Rail and road traffic has also been disrupted in many places.

"Water levels continue to overflow on track and surpassing danger level of bridges at different places," Southern Railway said in a statement, adding it had cancelled more than a dozen trains passing through Kerala.

The office of the chief minister said heavy rain was falling in some places today. More showers are expected over the weekend.

Modi said on Twitter that he would travel to Kerala "to take stock of the unfortunate situation".

Kerala has been hit with 37 per cent more rainfall than normal since the beginning of this monsoon, the Meteorological Department said.

Some plantations have also been inundated. The state is a major producer of rubber, tea, coffee and spices such as black pepper and cardamom.

"It's very scary. I can still see people on their roofs waiting to be rescued," said George Valy, a rubber dealer in Kottayam town.

The government says 10,000 kilometres (6,000 miles) of Kerala roads have been destroyed or damaged along with thousands of homes.

News reports said electricity supplies to more than half the state have been cut. The state power company said that only one million people were affected, however.

The home ministry announced meanwhile that 868 people have been reported dead in seven Indian states including Kerala since the start of the monsoon in June.

(Agencies)