Kerala floods: Death toll at 370; 58 more NDRF teams deployed, more rains predicted

Damages due to worst floods in Kerala have been pegged at Rs 19,000 crore.

Reuters photo

KOCHI: Spelling more trouble for the worst-flood hit Kerala, the state is expected to receive more rainfall on Sunday, which is likely to aggravate the misery of thousands who still await help and need to be rescued. The India Meteorological Department has forecast that widespread rains, with heavy rains at some isolated places, are likely to continue over Kerala following a low-pressure area which is likely to develop over the northwest Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood during the next 24 hours.

The death toll due to rains and floods in Kerala has now gone up to 370 on Sunday. 33 more deaths were reported on Saturday even as around 58,000 people were rescued in different parts of the state. In some good news, the authorities have withdrawn the red alert for all districts in Kerala. More than six lakh people have been moved to over 3,000 relief camps so far.

Here are the latest updates about Kerala floods and the relief and rescue operations being carried out there:-

-Community kitchen set up at Kochi Naval base catering to nearly 7000 people affected due to floods.  

Kochi: Community kitchen setup at Kochi naval base catering to nearly 7000 people affected due to floods. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/XyAQ1YI9C0 — ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018

-Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP govt to send water and dry food flood-hit parts of Kerala.

Held a meeting wid Resident Commissioner of Kerala to find out requirements. Del govt will send water n dry food. All SDM offices will act as collection centres for clothes, bedsheets n blankets — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 18, 2018

-An Indian Air Force chopper drops relief material to people in flood-hit areas in Kerala.

-58 of our NDRF teams are deployed across 8 districts of the state. They're carrying out rescue & evacuation work & extending medical emergency aids. Now that rain has subsided to some extent, our teams are being relocated partly to worst-affected areas: NDRF DG

58 of our NDRF teams are deployed across 8 districts of the state. They're carrying out rescue & evacuation work & extending medical emergency aids. Now that rain has subsided to some extent, our teams are being relocated partly to worst-affected areas: NDRF DG. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/93Cl9aAJ6y — ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018

-Road clearance work underway in Nelliyampathy hill station after multiple landslides damaged the roads.

#KeralaFloods: Road clearance work underway in Nelliyampathy hill station after multiple landslides damaged the roads pic.twitter.com/tUvSOyWqe9 — ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018

-President Ram Nath Kovind expresses satisfaction over rescue and relief operations in Kerala, hails relief agencies such as NDRF and public officials at the state and central level for their response and commitment. 

-Government school converted to a relief camp for #KeralaFloods in Chengannur, total 115 people have taken shelter at the camp.

Alappuzha: Government school converted to a relief camp for #KeralaFloods in Chengannur, total 115 people have taken shelter at the camp. pic.twitter.com/4C4EHAVMSl — ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018

-The death toll due to floods and the rain-related incidents in Kerala has reached 370, reports IANS. 

-Alliance Air, Jet Airways to operate special flights to flood-hit Kerala; here's the schedule

-People from Mumbai gather essential commodities to be sent to flood-hit Kerala.

People from Mumbai gather essential commodities to be sent to flood-hit Kerala. #KeralaFloods. pic.twitter.com/HnxYff0r6r — ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018

-At 10 am today, the water level in the Idukki reservoir was 2402.28 ft; water flow into Periyar river is 913 cusecs per hour. Two shutters have been closed.

Kerala: At 10 am today, the water level in the Idukki reservoir was 2402.28 ft; water flow into Periyar river is 913 cusecs per hour. Two shutters have been closed. #KeralaFloods (File pic) pic.twitter.com/YWqfzZj2DA — ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018

-Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has restored all its services to Kerala's Ernakulam, Kottayam, Thrissur, Palghat, Kozhikode, Kannur and Trivandrum. First service to start at 4 pm to Trivandrum from Bengaluru. Services to Kasaragod not restored.

#KeralaFloods: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has restored all its services to Kerala's Ernakulam, Kottayam, Thrissur, Palghat, Kozhikode, Kannur and Trivandrum. First service to start at 4 pm to Trivandrum from Bengaluru. Services to Kasaragod not restored. — ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018

-RAF team recovered one body from Nemmara landslide area in Palakkad district early morning today. Dy Commandant RAF Coimbatore unit, says,"We have recovered total 10 bodies from the area. Landslides are still occurring in the area,it was a tough task to recover the bodies"

#Kerala:RAF team recovered one body from Nemmara landslide area in Palakkad district early morning today.Dy Commandant RAF Coimbatore unit, says,"We have recovered total 10 bodies from the area. Landslides are still occurring in the area,it was a tough task to recover the bodies" pic.twitter.com/hISfBI1EEy — ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018

-The red alert has been withdrawn for all districts of Kerala today. Orange alert issued for 10 districts, yellow alert for 2 districts. Meanwhile, rescue operations underway across the state.

-Anbodu Kochi member Girish S Pradeep says, ''we started helpline on August 16. We have 3 rescue numbers''. Another member Saratha says, ''we are closely associated with District Collector's team. We take requirements of callers & cater the same to respected departments.''

Anbodu Kochi member Girish S Pradeep says, 'we started helpline on August 16. We have 3 rescue numbers. Another member Saratha says, 'we are closely associated with District Collector's team. We take requirements of callers & cater the same to respected departments' pic.twitter.com/gTMy28Tn28 — ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018

-"Anbodu Kochi", a team of volunteers, has established collection centres to collect relief materials for Kerala Flood victims. The team has also started a call centre to help victims; around 40 people are on mobile & laptops to receive calls and communicate callers' needs to concerned depts, reports ANI.

"Anbodu Kochi", a team of volunteers, has established collection centres to collect relief materials for #KeralaFlood victims.The team has also started call centre to help victims;around 40 ppl are on mobile&laptops to receive calls & communicate callers' needs to concerned depts pic.twitter.com/piKXQs8ziG — ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018

-Relief materials being loaded on board Naval Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Chetak helicopter and Naval Sea King helicopter at Naval Air Station INS Garuda in Kochi.

#KeralaFloods: Relief materials being loaded on board Naval Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Chetak helicopter & Naval Sea King helicopter at Naval Air Station INS Garuda in Kochi pic.twitter.com/t2hAtwZivj — ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018

-Air India to carry rescue operations from Kochi Naval Base, reports ANI.

-Navy's 'Operation Madad' scaled up in flood-hit Kerala, reports ANI.

-240 fire service personnel have been sent from Odisha's Bhubaneswar to the flood-affected areas of Kerala by a special Air Force plane.

240 fire service personnel have been sent from Odisha's Bhubaneswar to the flood-affected areas of Kerala by a special Air Force plane. #KeralaFloods (18.08.18) pic.twitter.com/sZnUrBd5h6 — ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018

-Visuals of relief operations conducted by Air Force at Chengannur. Squadron leader V Joshi says, ' the situation is quite bad. We are trying to rescue people. Right now we are giving them food & water so that they can at least survive till water recedes'.

Visuals of relief operations conducted by Air Force at Chengannur. Squadron leader V Joshi says, ' the situation is quite bad. We are trying to rescue people. Right now we are giving them food & water so that they can at least survive till water recedes' #KeralaFloods (18.08.18) pic.twitter.com/xliwch5vEc — ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018

-Around 7 Lakh litres of water has been loaded in the wagons for flood victims in Kerala. Each wagon contains around 50,000 litres of water. This train will go to Kayamkulam. The distance will be covered in about 25 hours:

#Mahrashtra: Around 7 Lakh litres of water has been loaded in the wagons for flood victims in Kerala. Each wagon contains around 50,000 litres of water. This train will go to Kayamkulam. The distance will be covered in about 25 hours: M.Deoskar, DRM Pune #KeralaFloods (18.8.18) pic.twitter.com/6e9W1RNfo2 — ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018

-Visuals of rescue operations being conducted at flood-hit Alangad village near Kochi city.

Visuals of rescue operations being conducted at flood-hit Alangad village near Kochi city. #KeralaFloods (18.08.18) pic.twitter.com/vsdxVf4IjI — ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018

The Kerala Floods Story So Far

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, while giving the latest figures, told the media late on Saturday that the flood relief work is going on in full swing and things are slowly coming under control and more helicopters and personnel would be engaged in the rescue and relief operations on Sunday.

The 33 deaths were reported from Ernakulam, Thrissur, Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts on Saturday.

Rejecting a demand from the Congress-led opposition and Kerala BJP to hand over the rescue operations to the Army, he said, "In a rescue operation, the most important thing is that it should be done only by the local authorities who are well-versed with the locality, and the Army and other agencies' help is sought and a combined operation is done."

While more than 58,000 people were rescued in districts like Ernakulam, Chengannur, Pathanamthitta and Thrissur, there are still many more waiting to be rescued.

Vijayan said that the red alert has now been limited to Ernakulam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts only.

The worst affected places include Aluva, Chalakudy, Chengannur, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta, where massive rescue operations were on as scores of persons were rescued.

Media houses continued to be flooded with requests from friends and relatives of those stranded in the affected areas.

Earlier on Saturday morning, CM Vijayan told Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a review meeting in Kochi that the death toll since May 29 had climbed to 357 and over 3.53 lakh affected persons had been lodged in over 2,000 relief camps.

PM Modi sanctioned Rs 500 crore to the flood-battered state, apart from Rs 100 crore announced earlier by the Centre on August 12, before returning to Delhi after an aerial survey of the flood-ravaged areas.

Vijayan the media that the situation is "very serious and grave".

Meanwhile, anger mounted across Kerala as coordination of rescue work went haywire due to the magnitude of the calamity.

"There are many people waiting to be rescued in areas like Pandanad (near Chengannur) and I saw two bodies floating in the water. If there is anymore delay in, things will taken a turn for the worse. We are drinking rain water to keep us going...," said a resident of Pandanad.

On Saturday night, a 150-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team started rescue operations in and around affected areas of Chengannur.

Congress legislator VD Sateeshan, who was spearheading the rescue operations in Paravur in Ernakulam district, said that he stood before a rescue boat team with folded hands and they obliged and rescued several people.

National award-winning actor Salimkumar, after remaining holed up in his house along with 45 others for three days, was finally rescued by a fishing boat on Saturday evening.

Flaying the state for "failing in the endeavour", Leader of Opposition Chennithala said, "I have been flooded with calls from the affected persons. Even now, thousands of people are stranded. The Chief Minister dismissed with contempt when I said this week that rescue and relief should be handed over to the Army. I do not want to blame anyone but it has been proved beyond doubt that the state government has failed."

More fishing boats from various places reached the affected areas during the day.

Alappuzha District Collector S Suhas said since morning 150 boats including house boats have been engaged in rescuing people and "today (Saturday) we evacuated about 75 percent of people who were waiting to be rescued".

The situation in Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad and Wayanad inched towards comparative normalcy as rains slowed and water level receded, with many living in crowded relief camps awaiting to return home.

However, a landslide near Nelliyampathy in Palakkad district has left around 1,000 people cut off from the mainland and the Army is working to clear the debris. At several places in waterlogged areas, banks could not function normally since staff failed to report for the duty due to flooding.

Railway services between Ernakulam and Thrissur remained suspended on Saturday with long-distance trains diverted via the Nagercoil route. A special train will be back on the Kottayam sector on Sunday, after all services on this route were suspended for the past two days.

Certain blockades on the Thrissur-Palakkad-Aluva highway was cleared for traffic. Army personnel worked hard to clear the roads to Munnar.

Kerala is facing the heaviest rains and consequent widespread floods and destruction since 1924, which the state estimates have caused a loss of over Rs 19,500 crore. 

(With Agency inputs)