Kerala Floods: 324 Died So Far, Says CM Pinarayi Vijayan, PM Modi To Conduct Aerial Survey

Unprecedented rains continue to wreak havoc across Kerala and have brought the coastal state to a standstill. "As many as 324 people have lost their lives due to rains, floods and landslides," tweeted chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Kerala is facing its worst flood in 100 years. 80 dams opened, 324 lives lost and 223139 people are in about 1500+ relief camps. Your help can rebuild the lives of the affected. Donate to https://t.co/FjYFEdOsyl #StandWithKerala.

— CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) August 17, 2018

According to the Home Ministry's National Emergency Response Centre (NERC), over 2,11,000 people in 14 districts have been badly hit by the rains and floods, and over 32,500 hectares of crops damaged.

Image Credit: PTI

Personnel of the three services, besides the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) resumed the gigantic task of evacuating people stranded on rooftops, highlands where hills came crashing down blocking roads and cutting them off the rest of the world, and those marooned in villages that have turned into islands.

Hundreds of people, including women, children and the elderly trapped in places inaccessible by boats were winched up by defence helicopters and shifted to safety.

Also Read: Kerala Floods: Death Toll Rises To 167, PM Modi To Visit State Tonight 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on late Friday landed in Kerala to review the situation.

PM Narendra Modi leaves from Thiruvananthapuram for an aerial survey of flood-affected areas of Kochi. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/CWdg2vzjwq

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018

"Leaving for Kerala to take stock of the flood situation in the state," Prime Minister Modi earlier tweeted.

Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Vijayan and assured that he will visit the flood-hit state to review the situations. The Centre has also launched massive rescue and relief operations as the situation in the state is getting worse with each passing day.

Image Credit: PTI

The rescue operations have also been stepped up in the state to evacuate people from the flood-affected situation.

Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been asked to mobilise additional manpower, boats and helicopters to scale up the rescue and relief operations. Food packets and drinking water are also being rushed. 

Meanwhile, a red alert was sounded in 13 districts of Kerala, except Kasaragod. A read has been sounded for Ernakulam and Idukki districts for Saturday as well.

Image Credit: PTI

The Indian Coast Guard's rescue and relief team from Vandiperiyar has been shifted to the flood-affected Manjumala village in Kerala's Idukki district.

Kerala has been witnessing incessant rain since past few days, causing flooding and landslide in the state.

Also Read: Punjab CM Announces Rs 10 Crore Immediate Relief For Flood-Ravaged Kerala

On Thursday, in view of the prevailing floods situation in Kerala, a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) was held to scale up assistance and ensured continued relief and rescue operations.

Agencies