India flood death toll jumps to 164
KOCHI, India: The death toll from ma-
Kerala has jumped to 164, state chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Friday, issuing a fresh heavy rainfall warning for the battered region.
Kerala’s government has described the crisis -- one of the worst in decades -- as “extremely grave” and rescue operations are underway to help thousands who
“The
chief minister has con- people died in the last 36 hours
government’s public department told AFP.
Local reports indicated an even higher toll with thousands still waiting for relief and rescue across relations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that he had discussed the flood situation with Vijayan as more troops and rescue workers were deployed across Kerala.
The state is always pommelled by the annual monsoon but this year’s damage has been the most severe in almost a century.
More than 150,000 people made homeless across the state have moved into some 1,300 relief camps.
fresh warning for around 33 million residents of Kerala.
Even before the latest warning, locals like Ajo Varghese have been posting desperate appeals for relief and rescue on social media.
A state official told AFP that apart from the new rainfall warnings, a breakdown of the local communication system was mak-
local people who may be in urgent need in the worst-affected areas.
The government says 10,000 kilometers of Kerala roads have been destroyed or damaged and tens of thousands of homes partially or completely damaged.
The gates of at least 34 major dams and reservoirs across the state have been opened in the last few days as water levels reached danger levels.
North and central Kerala has
the international airport in main city of Kochi shut until at least August 26.