Kerala flood death toll in India climbs to 164
150,000 homeless in ‘flood of a century’
NEW DELHI: The death toll from major floods in India’s tourist hotspot Kerala has jumped to 164, state chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said yesterday, 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 remain trapped by floodwaters.
“The chief minister has confirmed 164 deaths. Around 100 people have died in the last 36 hours alone,” an official in the Kerala government’s public relations department said.
Local reports indicated an even higher toll with thousands still waiting for relief and rescue across the flood-ravaged state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday said that he had discussed the flood situation with Vijayan as more troops and rescue workers were deployed across Kerala.
“Later this evening, I will be heading to Kerala to take stock of the unfortunate situation,” Mr Modi said on Twitter.
The state, famed for its beaches and tea plantations, is always pummelled by the
annual monsoon but this year’s 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.
Mr Vijayan’s office yesterday posted a fresh warning for around 33 million residents of Kerala.
“Alert: All districts apart from Kasargod are under red alert... heavy rains may affect these 13 districts. Everyone, please
be cautious,” his office tweeted.
Even before the latest warning, locals like Ajo Varghese have been appealing for relief and rescue on social media.
“My family and neighbouring families are in trouble with the flood in Pandanad Nakkada area in Alappuzha,” Mr Varghese said in a viral Facebook post.
“No water and food. Not able to communicate since afternoon. Mobile phones are not reachable and switch off. Please help...
No rescue is available,” he added.
A state official said that apart from the new rainfall warnings, a breakdown of the local communication system was making it difficult for them to reach people.
The government says 10,000 kilometres 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 dangerous levels.
North and central Kerala have been worst-hit by the floods with the international airport in the city of Kochi shut until at least August 26.
Rescue workers have used helicopters and boats to evacuate hundreds of people stranded on their home rooftops following the flooding in of Kerala where more than 160 people have died.
With torrential rains stopping yesterday, thousands of rescuers worked quickly to shift the marooned people to 1,200 staterun camps where more than 150,000 people already have taken shelter.
Heavy rains over the past eight days triggered flooding, landslides and home and road bridge collapses, severely disrupting air and train services in Kerala state, a popular tourist destination with beautiful beaches.