View of a flooded area in the north part of Kochi on August 18, 2018. (AFP photo)

People being airlifted by Navy personnel during a rescue operation in Paravoor near Kochi,

An aerial view of the submerged Kochi International airport on Saturday

People evacuated by volunteers from Eloorkkara near Aluva on Saturday. (TOI photo by Jipson Sikhera)

KOCHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: No red alert was issued for any of Kerala's rain-ravaged 14 districts for the first time since August 9, raising hopes that the lull in downpour since Friday wouldn't prove to be deceptive, as aid came pouring in from the Prime Minister as well as several state governments. The IMD, however, has forecast heavy rains at several places in Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts.The death toll since August 9 stands at 196 with 22 more deaths reported on Saturday. Currently, 6,61,887 people are lodged in 3,466 relief camps.The 22 deaths reported during the day were in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Chengannur districts. The worst affected places remained Aluva, Chalakudy, Chengannur, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta, where massive rescue operations continued involving NDRF, army, navy and coast guard.On Saturday, after surveying some of the flood-affected areas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sanctioned Rs 500 crore as an immediate relief to the state. He also announced an ex-gratia sum of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).Complementing the state authorities for their rescue efforts, Modi reiterated that the Centre was providing all possible assistance to Kerala. "This includes financial assistance, providing food grains and medicines. We have asked NHAI, NTPC, PGCIL to render all possible assistance and cater to basic infrastructure needs in the wake of the floods," the PM said."The central government is ensuring that benefits under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, MGNREGA, various social security schemes, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture reach those affected on a priority basis in Kerala," he added.The Centre had announced Rs 100-crore assistance on August 12 after Union home minister Rajnath Singh conducted an aerial survey of the flood situation.Governor P Sathasivam, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union minister K J Alphons accompanied the PM during the aerial survey.Just after he left Kerala, Modi tweeted: "I salute the people of Kerala for their fighting spirit... the nation stands firmly with Kerala in this hour."However, following the PM's announcement of relief, Vijayan, tweeted: "As per the initial estimate, the state has suffered a loss of Rs 19,512 crore. The actual loss can be ascertained only after the water recedes in the affected areas. The state has sought an immediate assistance of Rs 2,000 crore".The CM, meanwhile, has temporarily cancelled his US trip for medical consultation. He was scheduled to fly on Sunday.Battling heavy rains, which continued to batter Alappuzha on Saturday, rescue teams evacuated thousands of people who were stranded in remote corners of Chengannur and Kuttanad after the overflowing Vembanadu Lake and the Pampa River inundated vast stretches of areas in the region. The region is facing a grave situation as thousands more remained marooned without food, drinking water and medicines. Seven deaths were reported in Chengannur on Saturday. Four bodies were found in Pandanadu.As many as 25,000 people were rescued in Kuttanad, while over 2,500 people were moved to relief camps in Chengannur. The Navy, Air Force, NDRF personnel and fishermen conducted rescue operations in helicopters and hundreds of fishing and rescue boats.The people who were rescued in Chengannur said there were many more awaiting evacuations in regions such as Edanad, Pandanadu, Thiruvanvandoor and Nakkada. Making matters worse, flood waters started entering Venmoni, Ala and Cheriyanadu on Saturday morning.Over 1,94,074 people have been staying in 678 relief camps in the district. District police chief S Surendran said over 6,000 people were rescued in two days in Chengannur. He claimed rescue team could reach most of the regions in Chengannur and supplied food to stranded people. He warned against spreading false news about scores of people dying in the area and said people behind such rumours would be arrested.The water-level had started to go up in Kuttanad drastically. With the Vembanadu Lake overflowing, floodwater had started to enter even Alappuzha town. Sub-collector Krishna Teja said all those stranded in Kuttanad will be evacuated soon. "We could reach most of the areas, except for some pockets. We will reach those regions soon," he said. The district administration has directed irrigation officials to deepen the canals in Alappuzha town to drain the rising waters.Chengannur MLA Saji Cherian had said earlier in the day that over 2.5 lakh people in Chengannur have been staying without food and medicines for the past five days. "Ten of thousands of people have been battling for their lives in Chengannur as rescue teams have not been able to reach them," he said. Meanwhile, the district administration, at the behest of PWD minister G Sudhakaran, has arrested a houseboat owner, who refused to spare his boats for rescue operations. It seized at least 30 private boats anchored on Vembanadu Lake to use them for rescue operations. Sudhakaran said the licences of boat drivers who refused to provide boats for rescue operations would be cancelled.