Kerala floods: 800,000 displaced, fears of disease in camps

Kochi - More than 200,000 families have taken refuge at relief camps set up across the state.

A deluge in India's flood-stricken southwestern state of Kerala finally let up on Sunday, giving some respite for thousands of marooned families, while authorities feared an outbreak of disease among two million people crammed into relief camps.

Incessant rains since Aug. 8 have caused the state's worst floods in a century, and at least 186 people have perished, many of them killed by landslides. The beaches and backwaters of Kerala are top destinations for domestic and international tourists, but far fewer visit during the monsoon season.

The India Meteorological Department forecast heavy rainfall only at one or two places of Kerala on Sunday and withdrew a red alert in several districts. Flood waters too began to recede from several places.

Using boats and helicopters, India's military has led rescue efforts to reach people in communities cut off for days by the floods, with many trapped on roof tops and the upper floors of their homes, and in desperate need of food and potable water.

Rescue teams were focused on the town of Chengannur on the banks of the Pamba River, where some 5,000 people are feared to be trapped, officials said.

More than 200,000 families have taken refuge at relief camps set up across the state, an official at the Kerala State Disaster Management office said. Kerala's chief minister had earlier said two million people had taken shelter in camps since the monsoon rains began three months ago.

Latest updates:

4:05pm

Pope urges help, prayers for Kerala

Pope Francis called for solidarity and help from the international community for people affected by flooding in Kerala which has caused widespread death and destruction.

The Pope said during the weekly Sunday prayers on St. Peter's Square that residents of Kerala had been hit by intense rains in recent days, which had led to flooding, landslides and an enormous loss of life, reports Efe news.

He said the Catholic Church was working to bring help to the people of Kerala and urged those gathered in the Vatican square to pray for those who had died and all the people affected by the calamity.

Francis urged the international community to stand in solidarity with India and to offer concrete help to those affected by the floods.

3:35pm

Green chilly sold for Rs 400 a kg in Kochi

The worst floods to batter Kerala since 1924 have fuelled shortages and sent prices of vegetables zooming, with green chilli selling at Rs 400 a kg in Kochi and surrounding areas. Very few shops are open at the first place.

After the retail price of green chillies went through the roof, angry locals sought police intervention and the cost came down. But even now it is costing Rs 120 a kg. Onions, potatoes and cabbage were being sold at Rs 90 a kg before police told the vendors to put up a price display board.

The retail cost of rice and sugar has shot up by Rs 15. Frustrated residents organised a noisy protest at a shop in Kaloor near here, forcing again the police to intervene. The shop owner argued that he had no choice but to jack up the prices as he was paying more on transport.

2:05pm

12:40pm

IAF aircraft drops relief material for flood affected people

12:30pm

Naval Base to be used for commercial flights from Monday: Suresh Prabhu

11:50am

Road clearance work underway in Nelliyampathy

11:35am

More bodies found in flooded Kerala as toll hits 357

Rescuers waded into submerged villages in southern India on Sunday in a desperate search for survivors cut off for days by floods that have already killed more than 350 people.

11:30am

Trains bring drinking water to flooded areas

Indian authorities are bringing drinking water by train to the flooded southern state of Kerala, where over 300 people have died and 300,000 are displaced in the worst flooding in a century. Weather officials predict more rains across the state until Monday morning.

Indian railway official Milind Deouskar, quoted by the Press Trust of India news agency, says at least two trains carrying about 1.5 million liters (400,000 gallons) of water are moving to the flooded areas from the neighboring states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

11:00am

Naval Air Station cleared for operating civil flights from Monday

10:15am

People from Mumbai gather essential commodities to be sent to Kerala

9:15am

Red alert withdrawn from all districts, rescue operations underway

8:34am

Flights to and fro Kochi to commence from Monday

Flights from and to Kochi will begin their operations again from Monday onwards after authorities made arrangements at the naval base where civilian flights will take off. According to The Indian Express, the decision was taken after Air Alliance conducted a test flight from Bengaluru to Kochi on Saturday.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation had delegated a team comprising officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviaiton (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Airports Authority of India (AAI) to examine the possibility of commencing civilian flights from the naval facility.

7:45am(GST)

A total of Dh10 million has been collected by the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation through UAE-based Indian tycoons and businesses for Kerala flood victims, a few hours only after the Foundation had launched its relief campaign in response to the directives of UAE leaders to form a national emergency committee to provide assistance to the flood-striken Indian state.

Indian businessmen Yusuff Ali M.A., owner of the Lulu Hypermarket chain worldwide, and Dr. B. R. Shetty, Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice Chairman of NMC Health PLC, have donated Dh5.00 million each, in response to the UAE emergency campaign for standing by the flood-hit victims.

6:30am

The death toll due to rains and floods in Kerala has gone up to 368, as 33 more deaths were reported on Saturday even as around 58,000 people were rescued in different parts of the state, and red alert is now there in just three districts, down from 11.

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 reported during the day took place in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts.

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."

The India Meteorological Department on Saturday afternoon forecast that widespread rains, with heavy rains at isolated places, are likely to continue over Kerala following low pressure area very likely to develop over northwest Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood during the next 24 hours.

----

8:45pm

His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, telephoned the Chief Minister of Indian state of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, and conveyed condolences on behalf of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, as well as of the Government and people of the UAE, for the victims of the floods in Kerala that have claimed more than 350 lives and left over 150,000 people homeless, in what has become the most devastating floods in the state in a century.

8:00pm

Kerala flood toll rises to 357; 50,000 rescued, red alert in 11 districts

The death toll due to rains and floods in Kerala has gone up to 357 this monsoon season, as 22 more deaths were reported on Saturday even as around 50,000 people were rescued in different parts of the state, and red alert continued in 11 districts following prediction of more rains.

The India Meteorological Department forecast on Saturday afternoon that widespread rains, with heavy rains at isolated places, is likely to continue over Kerala following low pressure area very likely to develop over northwest Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood during the next 24 hours.

While around 50,000 people were rescued in districts like Ernakulam, Chengannur, Pathanamthitta and Thrissur, there are still many more waiting to be rescued.

Barring Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kasargode, the remaining 11 districts of Kerala continued to be on red alert and can expect more rains.

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

6:00pm

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai and UAE Vice President, for his gracious offer to support the flood affected Kerala:

5:45pm

The Universal Hospital Abu Dhabi in association with The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India are collecting relief items for the people affected by the floods in Kerala.

Supplied photo

The items that they are collecting include blankets, mats, scarves, footwear, mugs, soaps, slippers etc.

5:33pm

In view of the grave situation in Kerala due to floods, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has call off his proposed trip to the US for medical treatment, an official said on Saturday.

5:15pm

As Kerala battles the worst floods in its recent history, many NGOs have come forward to lend their support to ensuring supply of packaged meals and other relief items to the worst affected areas of the state.

Indian states, Maharashtra and Haryana announce Rs200 million (Rs20 crore) and Rs100 million (Rs10 crore) financial assistance, respectively.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said the state would provide a financial assistance of Rs 10 crore to flood-affected people and for rescue operations in Kerala.

The people of Kerala have been facing heavy losses of life and property due to severe floods and Haryana is with Kerala in this hour of need, an official statement quoting Khattar said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday announced an emergency financial aid of Rs 20 crore plus food and other essentials for the flood hit victims of Kerala, an official said here.

From Sunday, the government, in collaboration with various agencies and NGOs will make arrangements for food and other items of daily need for the flood victims.

A consignment of six tonnes will be despatched to Kerala on Saturday, while another five tonnes will follow shortly.

In this, realtors, umbrella bodies, MCHI and CREDAI have contributed foodgrains worth Rs 1.50 crore while the Rajasthani Welfare Association and JITO have extended help of Rs 51 lakh each.

The private sector ICICI Bank also announced a contribution of Rs 10 crore towards Kerala flood relief, besides waiving off various penalties on late EMI payments for all retail loans, credit card dues and cheque bouncing cases for the current month.

While Rs 8 crore of the contribution will go to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF), the rest will be in the form of essential commodities, food, medicines, clothes, sanitation and hygiene products, to the 14 worst-hit districts, said the bank's Executive Director Anup Bagchi.

Earlier on Saturday, the State Bank of India donated Rs 2 crore and initiated several ground-level measures in the deluged state.

4:40pm

UAE residents can donate up to Dh200 to the Emirates Red Crescent's Kerala relief fund through their phones via du or Etisalat on these numbers:

To donate via Etisalat:

SMS 2441 for Dh10

SMS 2443 for Dh50

SMS 2446 for Dh100

SMS 2449 for Dh200

Also read: UAE businessman donates Dh2.6m for Kerala flood relief

To donate via du:

SMS 3441 for Dh10

SMS 3443 for Dh50

SMS 3446 for Dh100

SMS 3449 for Dh200

4:07pm (GST)

Air India, true to its reputation, spread its wings to stand with the people stranded in the devastating flood wreaking havoc in Kerala.

2:08pm (GST)

The Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation has launched an emergency relief campaign to assist the Kerala flood victims.

1:25pm

The ministers, MLAs, and MPs from Aam Aadmi Party will be donating their salary of one-month for flood victims of Kerala.

1:13pm

Heavy rainfall is likely to continue in Kerala for the next two days, the weather department has said.

12:39am

Rescuers in helicopters and boats fought to get to stranded villagers in India's Kerala state on Saturday as the toll from the worst monsoon floods in a century rose above 320 dead

Dozens of military and coastguard helicopters flew in torrential rain to reach high risk areas, officials said, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing the crisis as "devastating."

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced late Friday that the monsoon death toll had dramatically risen to 324.

State officials said they expected the number to rise further as more landslides were reported and as dam and reservoir levels remained dangerously high.

With power and communication lines down, thousands remained trapped in towns and villages cut off by the floods amid growing shortages of food and water.

Helicopters have been dropping emergency food and water supplies across Kerala, while special trains carrying drinking water have been sent to the state.Dozens of dam and reservoir gates across the state have had to be opened as water levels reach danger levels, inundating many villages.

While more than 300,000 people have taken shelter in relief camps, particular fears have been raised for Chengannur, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram, which has been cut off for four days.

Troops and military boats have been sent to the town and media reports said bodies had been found. The state government did not immediately give an updated toll early Saturday.

Saji Cherian, who represents Chengannur in the Kerala assembly, said he feared there were at least 50 dead in the town and broke down in tears as he pleaded for more help on Asianet TV late Friday.

"Please give us a helicopter. I am begging you. Please help me, people in my place will die. Please help us. There is no other solution, people have to be airlifted," he said.

"We did what we can with fishing boats we procured using our political clout. But we can't do more.

With no end in sight to the rains, people all over the state of 33 million have made panic-stricken appeals on social media for help, saying they cannot make contact with rescue services

Some say they are trapped inside temples and hospitals as well as submerged homes.

Authorities have warned that rains and strong winds are predicted for many parts of Kerala on Saturday and Sunday.

Prime Minister Modi arrived in Kerala on Friday night and held meetings with state leaders and went on a brief air inspection tour.

Heavy rain continues to lash Karnataka district

"I took stock of the situation arising in the wake of the devastating floods across the state," Modi said in a Twitter statement.

He added that the government "is providing all possible assistance to Kerala. This includes financial assistance, providing food grains and medicines." An immediate grant of about $75 million would be given to the state.

Dozens of military helicopters stepped up rescue operations across the state and in one a heavily pregnant woman Sajita Jabeel, 25, gave birth just after her rescue, an Indian Navy spokesman said.