New Delhi:
As torrential rains, floods and landslides continue to wreak havoc across Kerala, at least 324 people have lost their lives in the southern state. Over 100 people died in rain-related incidents in just one day on Thursday. In the wake of this emergency situation in the state, the NDRF has scaled up operations this morning and has moved more than 4,000 people to safer places. The rescue team has also evacuated another 44 from flooded areas in Kerala in the past nine days, even as its personnel struggle to reach the remote areas cut off due to landslides.
Kerala has been hit by incessant rains and rivers and dam reservoirs are overflowing ever since the second spell of monsoon fury began on August 8. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reach Kerala on Friday night and will undertake an aerial survey of flood-hit areas on Saturday.
Read | Monsoon fury devastates seven states, claims 868 lives, renders thousands homeless
Talking about the railway and airline communication in the state, over 25 trains were either cancelled or rescheduled in Kerala though Kochi metro operations have not been affected so far. With runways being flooded, the operations at Kochi airport will remain suspended till August 26.
The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) also hold an emergency meeting on Friday and directed to mobilise additional resources to all those agencies who were engaged in rescue and relief operations in flood-hit Kerala.
The Kerala government has also raised excise duty on Indian Made Foreign Liquor till November 30 to mop up additional resources for relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Read | Kerala Floods LIVE: 25-year-old rescued by Navy gives birth to a baby boy
People are carrying grain sack as their houses get flooded after Kakkayam dam was opened following heavy monsoon rainfall in Kozhikode on Thursday.
Air Force personnel carry out rescue operations at flood-affected region following incessant downpour in Kochi on Thursday.
Stranded people were rescued from a flood-affected region following heavy monsoon rainfall on Thursday.
People wade across a waterlogged street at a flood-affected region following heavy monsoon rainfall in Kochi on Thursday.
Indian Coast Guards deployed for rescue in various flood-affected regions across Kerala on Thursday.
Submerged area near Cochin International Airport after monsoon rainfall in Kochi on Wednesday and Thursday. The Kochi airport at Nedumbassery suspended operations till August 26 due to rains and floods.
People shift from a flood-hit locality in Kochi on Wednesday.
Anbodu Kochi volunteers and District Civil officers organise relief material to be sent to flood affected areas in Kochi on Tuesday.
