Kerala Floods: Death toll rises to 39, Centre announces immediate relief of Rs 1 billion

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 13: Following unprecedented rainfall recorded in Kerala over the past few weeks, the death toll in the state due to rain related calamities has risen to 39.

Water level in the Idukki hydel reservoir dropped

Water level in the Idukki hydel reservoir has dropped below the 2,400 ft. mark, but the situation in large parts of Idukki remains grim with heavy displacement of people and continuing rains.

1,000 families stuck in relief camps

Around 1,000 families are stuck in relief camps in Idukki owing to the continuing rains and damage to homes, roads and bridges.

Rajnath Singh announces Rs 100 crore immediate assistance for affected areas

While the central government announced Rs 100 crore as immediate central relief, the state government had submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, seeking urgent sanction of Rs 1,220 crore from the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) to meet the situation. The minister, who made an aerial survey of badly affected areas in Idukki and Ernakulam districts, said the rains and floods had caused "massive damage" to the farm sector and infrastructure like roads and power.

Relief and rescue operations in Kerala

Ten columns of the Army, a unit of Madras Regiment along with personnel of the Navy, Air Force and NDRF are engaged in relief and rescue work in badly-hit districts, including Kozhikode, Idukki, Malappuram, Kannur and Wayanad, Defence sources said.

MET issues the red alert

The weather department has issued a 'Red alert', asking people to be cautious as there was a possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall in most places in Idukki, Wayanad, Kannur, Ernakulam, Palakkad and Malappuram districts.