Kerala Floods LIVE: Death toll rises to 114, rescue operations underway

With the death toll in the devastating floods rising to 114 in Kerala, and more than one lakh people living in relief camps across the state, a red alert was sounded in 11 of the 14 Kerala districts. The Center on Thursday deployed all three wings of the armed forces in a massive rescue operation. Helicopters airlifted stranded families from rooftops and dams were thrown open as the incessant torrential rain brought fresh havoc

North and Central
Kerala has been the worst hit by the floods. Pathanamthitta district in Central Kerala has been the worst affected in the last 24 hours as thousands of people – students among others were trapped in their homes in Ranni, Aranmula and Kozhencherry.

Cochin airport has been shut until Saturday after water flooded the complex. Southern Railways and Kochi Metro today suspend their operations due to floods

Here are live updates from Kerala:


* Reports of 47 deaths came mostly from Malappuram, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Thrissur and Pathanamthitta where the rivers are in spate since August 8.


* Some 540 armed, navy and air force reinforcements were sent to Kerala on Thursday to join the rescue effort

* 10,000 kilometers of roads have been

* In a first, the sluices of 33 dams across Kerala have been opened, following incessant rain since late Tuesday.

* Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan appealed to the people for generous contributions to battle the worst floods faced by Kerala in nearly a century. Vijayan spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi late Wednesday evening and was assured of all necessary help. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh promised to send more forces to help the state.

* Three new teams of Military Engineering Task Force arrived in the state capital in the night. A team of naval officials has already reached Alappuzha district for relief and rescue.

* Five family members died in Malappuram, crushed when their house collapsed. Three were reported missing, while one child was rescued. A person died in a Munnar lodge collapse. The 70-year-old woman was electrocuted near Pathanamthitta as her house was submerged.

* The situation in Pathanamthitta district, especially Ranni and its surrounding areas, appeared to be bleak since late Wednesday evening as local CPI-M legislator Raju Abraham, said things were turning from bad to worse and he was receiving frantic calls from his contituents in Ranni.
"Many of them are now perched on terraces as hours up to the first floor are flooded and water level is still rising. The biggest problem is no power supply in many flooded areas, with mobile phones running low on batteries, "said Abraham.

* Indian Air Force personnel used helicopters to airlift people to safety from some areas of Pathanamthitta district in the evening to the state capital.
The Navy said it had rescued more than 80 people in Kerala. As part of its Operation Madad, the Southern Naval Command deployed 21 rescue and diving teams with Gemini boats for the purpose.

* The famed tourist destination in Munnar has been closed for traffic, following flooding of the Old Munnar town.

* The Sabarimala Temple has warned pilgrims not to reach the shrine in view of the surging river waters in the vicinity.

* On Wednesday, Vijayan took the Independence Day amid rain here and urged everyone to contribute generously. 19659002] * The public transport system collapsed in many parts of central Kerala with the Southern Railways and Kochi Metro today suspending their operations due to floods. "Due to a rise in water level at Bridge No 176 on Downline between Angamali and Aluva, The services on this bridge is suspended, "a Southern railway spokesman said in a statement early today.

"Kochi Metro Rail Operation is suspended as the water level rises in Muttom yard area,
The Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) also suspended its operations this morning after its yard in Muttom near Aluva submerged in the flood waters. "the KMRL statement said.
The service will be resumed once the water comes down and the systems are back in good condition, its spokesperson said. Bus services to Kochi were also affected by the National Highways connecting the city submerged in Kalamassery area, said officials.

* The Center today launched massive relief and rescue operations in flood-hit Kerala, involving the three defense forces and other agencies, even as Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha chaired a high-level meeting following a directive by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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Apart from the Army, Navy and the Indian Air Force, the Coast Guard and the National Disaster Response Force have been asked to mobilize additional manpower, boats and helicopters to scale up the rescue and relief operations, a home ministry spokesperson said here.

The Idukki dam floodgates were reopened late on Tuesday as the water level in the Periyar river and its tributaries flowing through Ernakulam and Thrissur districts rose menacingly.

The shutters of the Mullaperiyar dam were opened at 2.35 am after its level crossed 140 feet. People living in and around the dam were evacuated late on Tuesday.

The heaviest rains and floods since 1924 have caused massive destruction, leaving more than 75,000 people in relief camps and damage to crops and properties that the state estimated to be over Rs 8,000 crore.

Union Tourism Minister and former Kerala MLA, KJ Alphons met the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Defense Minister and Finance Minister yesterday to discuss the Floods in the state. Alphons will be traveling to Trivandrum today to alayise the situation on ground.

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