Kerala floods latest updates: The IMD has issued a heavy rainfall warning for 11 districts in Kerala on Saturday.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram late on Friday evening. He left the state capital on Saturday to take stock of the flood situation in Kerala through an aerial survey.

As per a tweet by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the navy, army and coast guard combined are using 221 motorised boats and seven non-motorised boats for the ongoing search and rescue operations in Kerala.

As per details released by the Disaster Management State Control Room on Friday, Thrissur district recorded the highest number of deaths (42) in Kerala so far since rains ravaged the state from 8 August. The district also registered the highest number of missing persons (19). However, Wayanad district showed the maximum damage to houses, worth Rs 4.81 crore, followed closely by Palakkad and estimated crop losses were massively high in Malappuram compared to other districts..

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was forced to cancel the aerial survey due to inclement weather, reported News18. Due to heavy rains, the helicopter is not being able to lift off. The weather condition was forced the helicopter to return to the naval airport.

Both Modi and Vijayan are camping at the naval base since they can't continue with the recce.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently chairing a meeting in Kochi with Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union minister KJ Alphons and other officials, after his aerial survey was called off due to inclement weather.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in the "worst floods in 100 years", at least 324 lives have been lost in Kerala so far. On Friday, over 80,000 persons, stranded in various places, were rescued, of whom 71,000 were from one of the worst affected Aluva region of Ernakulam district.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's chopper has taken off from Kochi to conduct an aerial survey of the flood-ravaged state. Earlier on Saturday morning, the prime minister had to abandon the aerial recce due to inclement weather.

After the high-level review meeting between Modi, Vijayan and army and naval rescue teams concluded, the prime minister has reportedly sanctioned Rs 500 crore as interim relief for Kerala. More details awaited.

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation will restart more of its services from Saturday onwards. Buses from Kozhikode to Thrissur and Kannur are already plying. The state buses are also running from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam via Alapuzha. However, there are no buses to Thrissur or Kozhikode from Thiruvananthapuram.

The state of Kerala has so far incurred a loss of Rs 19,512 crore as damage to life and property. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has offered Rs 500 crore as interim relief. The Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had reportedly informed Modi that the loss estimated by the state government was Rs 20,000 crores. The state government had demanded Rs1,000 crore as interim relief.

Prime Minister has announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh per person to the next kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Funds (PMNRF).

Indian Air Force commodore PK Sreekumar, who is engaged in rescue operations at Mannar, says there is lack of understanding about ground realities in places where urgent attention is required, resulting in a chaotic situation for coordination. "No government agency is seen in Pandanad region where hundreds are stranded. We need more boats. Not a single boat has come from administrative side," he said.

Under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, 5.5 crore person days have been sanctioned in the labour Budget for 2018-19. Any further request for incurring person days would be considered as per the requirement projected by the state. Under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, farmers would be provided assistance for replantation of damaged horticulture crops.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to repair main national highways damaged due to floods on priority. The Central Public Sector like NTPC and PGCIL have also been directed to be available to render all possible assistance to the state government in restoring power lines. Villagers, whose kutcha houses have been destroyed in the devastating floods, would be provided 'Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin' houses on priority, irrespective of their priority in the Permanent Wait List of PMAY-G.

The Attoli Bus Owners Society Sangam (ABOS) has said bus fares collected will go to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Bus conductors in buses running in the routes of Attoli to Calicut town have replaced the traditional conductor purses with collection buckets. Passengers can contribute from the minimum ticket fare to any amount they desire. Tickets are not issued for this relief ride. Around 30 buses are taking part in this process, and all collections from the day will go into the CMRF.

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Complaints regarding hoarding of foodgrains and other essential items by traders are coming from Idukki, which is almost cut off from the rest of the state following extensive damage to roads leading up to the district. Prices of the essential items have shot up in many places after supplies from outside were disrupted. Only limited items are coming into Ernakulam via Neriyamanagalm. Reports from Idukki said people in many isolated areas were passing days without food.

He also said the state is dealing with an "unprecedented disaster". "We have been promised more helicopters... This is the problem with you media people, you are always thinking negatively. We are getting all possible help," asserted Vijayan.

"We made the situation very clear in front of the prime minister. The prime minister has announced Rs 500cr more than what was announced earlier (Rs 100cr). The situation is grave in Kerala. We must stand together. The prime minister has understood the situation very well. The Revenue Department officials were also there with us (during the meeting)," explained Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan while speaking to reporters.

The IMD has issued a heavy rainfall warning for 11 districts in the state on Saturday. According to The Hindu , the Met Office in Thiruvananthapuram said that Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur districts were most likely to experience heavy rainfall (7 -11 cm in 24 hours).

"There are still thousands stranded in Pandanad without food or water for four days. We may see a big human tragedy," the survivor further said.

"We have been saved by fishermen from Kollam on their countrymade boats. No one from the government side came to our help. We survived by drinking rain water for four days," said one of the survivors.

A few families stranded for a few days in Pandanad have been rescued. There is seething anger among survivors.

A circular by the Kerala State Electricity Board Limited has gone out to all employees asking them to be on a war footing during the restoration and renovation process in bringing their systems back to the pre-flood state. KSEBL has been the worst hit with all its substations, feeder and lines submerged in the flood, including the inundation of small hydel projects, the notice said. The actual loss and damage sustained to KSEBL can only be properly ascertained after the water recedes, it said, asking all employees and officers to defer all personal activities, avoid holidays as much as possible in the coming days.

Relief material being collected and sent to Coorg from the Kodava Samaj premises in Bengaluru.

A lorry carrying relief materials, including medicines, biscuits, blankets, rice, sarees and sanitary pads to Coorg, was flagged off by Shobha Karandlaje from the BJP party office in Bangalore. She said the party is in touch with the DC of Kodagu to understand their immediate needs. She appealed to the public to donate generously. (Source: BJP Karnataka)

Speaking to reporters, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "On Rahul Gandhi's directions, the governments of Punjab and Karnataka have donated Rs 10 crore for assistance to our brethren in Kerala, while the Puducherry government has sent Rs 1 crore. Further, all MPs, MLAs and MLCs will donate one month's salary."

The assessment of loss is yet to begin. The most affected villages are Byate Thimmana Koppalu, Enne Hole Koppalu and Chaluvarasana Koppalu. Achchappana Koppalu, Ramapura, Doddapalya, Mandya Koppalu and Cauvery Boredevara Thopu are some other villages that are potentially vulnerable. Police bandobast has been made at many vulnerable places to prevent people from entering Cauvery to wash clothes and utensils, and for bathing. Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited’s Executive Engineer Basavarajegowda has issued a flood warning to residents of the low-lying areas along the Cauvery and has cautioned people against venturing into the river. “We have asked the people not to graze their cattle near the river,” an Assistant Engineer said.

In Karnataka's Mandya, the district administration has formed teams for round-the-clock monitoring of possible flooding situation at vulnerable areas, besides initiating measures to tackle possible untoward incidents. “We have instructed all the Panchayat Development Officers and Village Accountants to patrol the area besides helping the residents,” a PDO said. The Cauvery has submerged a large tract of agricultural fields and some water pumping stations. Measures will be initiated to repair the pumping stations soon, the officer said.

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The news channel further said that 60,000 people were rescued today. There are still 1 lakh people who still need to be rescued.

News18 also reported that only four districts were on red alert right now.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said that due to the floods in Kerala, there has been a shortage of drinking water, and that the Indian Railways is providing 15 lakh litres of water to Kerala from Pune and Ratlam. "In this hour of crisis, Railways is dedicated to extending support to the victims of the Kerala floods," he tweeted.

Kerala has received 170 percent more rain than is normal from 1 August 1 to 17 August. As many as 194 people have died and 36 have been missing since 8 August due to rains and landslides. Over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps.

In a much-needed respite to rain-battered Kerala, the India Meteorological Department said the intensity of rainfall in the state will reduce in the next two to three days. IMD additional director general Mritunjay Mohapatra said Kerala is not expected to receive heavy rainfall from 20 August.

Due to the floods in Kerala, there has been a shortage of drinking water. Railways is providing 15 Lakh litres of water to Kerala from Pune and Ratlam. In this hour of crisis, Railways is dedicated to extending support to the victims of the Kerala floods. pic.twitter.com/POWRYWkNIn

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said that due to the floods in Kerala, there has been a shortage of drinking water, and that the Indian Railways is providing 15 lakh litres of water to Kerala from Pune and Ratlam. "In this hour of crisis, Railways is dedicated to extending support to the victims of the Kerala floods," he tweeted.

The Resident Commissioner of Kerala informed Kejriwal that the situation in the southern state was serious and listed out the immediate requirements. Bottled water, biscuits, dry food packets, blankets, bedsheets and clothes are the top requirements at the moment.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal held a meeting to discuss ways to send help to flood-hit Kerala. In a statement, the Delhi government said it would send relief material for the victims of the deluge. Kejriwal has already released Rs 10 crore from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for Kerala, the statement added.

#KeralaFloods2018 #OPRAHAT @IndiaCoastGuard Team rescued 127 marooned people from the flooded homes of East #Kadangaloor including a 10 day old infant and also a mother with advanced pregnancy today. All shifted to safety @DefenceMinIndia @CMOKerala @DG_PIB @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/QulykklUoL

The Indian Coast Guard on Satusday rescued 127 marooned people from the flooded homes of East Kadangaloor, including a 10-day-old infant and a woman in the later stage of pregnancy. They were all moved to safety, the Coast Guard said.

#KeralaFloods2018 #KeralaFloodRelief #OpMadad A makeshift Relief shelter in an aircraft hangar in Naval Base Kochi housing at least 250 affected citizens of Kerala. Naval families in attendance to look after their needs 24X7 pic.twitter.com/mgJjYNiDat

A makeshift relief shelter has been set up at an aircraft hangar at the naval base in Kochi. It is currently housing at least 250 people affected by the floods in Kerala.

Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje has announced financial assistance of Rs 10 crore from the state for flood-hit Kerala, ANI reported. Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab and Delhi have also offered financial assistance.

More than 1200 youth brigade volunteers have been deployed by DYFI in Kannur itself who are working in more than 200 camps and are ensuring relief assistance reaches every possible person. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/g2YSyjsBCr

The Democratic Youth Federation of India has deployed more than 1,200 youth volunteers in Kannur. They are working at more than 200 camps to ensure that relief material reaches everyone affected by the devastating floods, the CPM tweeted.

Three more NDRF teams have been sent from Pune to help with relief and rescue operations in Kerala. Earlier, four teams were sent, bring the total number of NDRF teams sent to Kerala from Pune to seven, ANI reported.

Kerala has received 170 percent more rain than is normal from 1 August 1 to 17 August. As many as 194 people have died and 36 have been missing since 8 August due to rains and landslides. Over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps.

In a much-needed respite to rain-battered Kerala, the India Meteorological Department said the intensity of rainfall in the state will reduce in the next two to three days. IMD additional director general Mritunjay Mohapatra said Kerala is not expected to receive heavy rainfall from 20 August.

Kerala floods latest updates: The IMD has withdrawn the red alert in the state for Sunday, but an orange alert still stands for three districts. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said 58,506 people were rescued on Saturday, but around a lakh were still stranded. The official toll in the last 10 days stands at 206.

Padanad in Chengannur district in central Kerala has emerged as the epicentre of the calamity. Over 300 people have been rescued from the district so far, and more than 1,500 families are reported to be stranded here on rooftops. At least 100 families in Thiruvanmandoor. Edanad, Pandanad and Mangalam are stranded in the worst-affected areas of Chengannur.

According to the IMD, the state received 619.5 mm rainfall this month till 16 August. This is usually 244.1 mm. "The intensity of rainfall has decreased now. There won't be extremely heavy rains anymore but heavy rains will continue for two days," IMD scientist S Devi told ANI.

Speaking to reporters, Vijayan said that Kerala was facing an "unprecedented disaster". "The situation is grave in Kerala. We must stand together. The prime minister has understood the situation very well," he said, adding that this was the "worst floods in Kerala in 100 years". At least 324 people have died so far.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an aerial survey to assess damage caused by flooding, and joined a review meeting to take stock of the situation. "The nation stands firmly with Kerala in this hour," he said on Twitter.

Kerala has so far incurred a loss of Rs 19,512 crore as damage to life and property, said Vijayan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has offered Rs 500 crore as interim relief.

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 from the rest of the world, and those marooned in villages that have turned into islands.

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

TV channels telecast disturbing visuals of a woman in labour being pulled up with the help of a rope dropped down from a navy chopper, swinging violently in the air.

The woman, whose amniotic sac was ruptured, was shifted to a navy hospital where she gave birth to a baby boy. Both the mother and the child are doing fine, officials said.

Desperate non-resident Keralites from Australia, the US and the UK were making fervent pleas to authorities through television channels seeking help for their dear ones.

Soumya from Australia said her parents and their relatives were stranded in Aluva for the past two days. Another said an elderly relative Mary Varghese was badly in need of an oxygen cylinder and her condition was worsening.

Although the rain let up in a few places on Saturday, four districts of Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur remained in the throes of the monsoon fury. Officials said many private hospitals in Ernakulam district are running out of oxygen, forcing the authorities to shift patients to nearby facilities.

Many had to be evacuated after flood water entered hospitals. People in relief shelters also complained about dearth of food and drinking water.

Quite a few petrol pumps, even in places like the state capital Thiruvananthapuram, which has escaped the monsoon fury to some extent, have run dry. Long queues of motorists were seen at several fuel stations in Thiruvananthapuram district. Authorities have directed each of these fuel bunks to keep in reserve 3,000 litres of diesel and 1,000 litres of petrol at all times for relief operations.

Local fishermen have also joined in the rescue mission with their boats and could be seen evacuating those marooned in places like Aluva, Kalady, Perumbavoor, Muvattupuzha and Chalakudy.

Several roads in the hill district of Idukki, including in picturesque Munnar, have been badly damaged from a string of landslides. Wayanad, among the worst-hit by the floods, is cut off from the rest of Kerala.

The Kochi airport is still shut with rain water flooding the runways. Several trains were either cancelled or rescheduled. Services on the Kochi Metro are, however, unaffected.

With inputs from PTI