India appears poised to reject offers of millions of pounds in foreign aid for the flooding crisis in the southern state of Kerala, instead relying on its own ability to tackle the enormous clean-up operation.

Kerala’s state government has estimated the losses from the flooding, which began on 8 August, will amount to £2.2bn-£2.7bn. Nearly 400 people have died and more than one million have been displaced from their homes.

In the wake of the disaster, the UAE, Qatar and the Maldives came forward with offers of financial aid amounting to nearly £82m.

India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, tweeted to thank the UAE’s prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whose offer made up the bulk of the total. He wrote: “A big thanks to @hhshkmohd for his gracious offer to support people of Kerala during this difficult time. His concern reflects the special ties between governments and people of India and UAE.”

But India will follow the precedent set in December 2004 when the then-prime minister Manmohan Singh refused international aid for the victims of a huge tsunami that killed more than 12,000 people. “We feel that we can cope with the situation on our own,” Mr Singh said at the time.

The language of Mr Modi’s tweet – giving thanks for the offer without explicitly accepting or rejecting it – follows the diplomatic playbook set since then. In the last 14 years, India has politely refused aid from the likes of the US, Russia and Japan following an earthquake in Kashmir in 2005 and floods in 2013 and 2014.

In response to queries regarding media reports on international assistance for flood relief measures, an official government spokesperson said: "The Government of India deeply appreciates offers from several countries, including from foreign governments, to assist in relief and rehabilitation efforts after the tragic floods.

"In line with the existing policy, the Government is committed to meeting the requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts. Contributions to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund and the Chief Minister's Relief Fund from NRIs, PIOs and international entities such as foundations would, however, be welcome."

According to the Business Standard, a document has been circulated among those coordinating the recovery effort in Kerala advising them to direct all offers of foreign aid to the central government. “You may politely convey to your interlocutors that in the present circumstances, the government of India has taken a considered decision to rely solely on domestic efforts to tide over the challenge,” it adds.

Any Indian diplomats approached by foreign governments should “express gratitude… for their sentiments and offer, but [foreign officials] are to be politely told that the government has no requirement as of now [for aid]”, a senior official told the Indian Express.

Private offers of aid from individuals based outside India – not least from the large Keralan diaspora are still being welcomed, partly because they do not come with the same diplomatic implications.

Finance minister Piyush Goyal announced that the government was exempting customs duties and sales tax for consignments of aid and materials for Kerala from abroad, saying: “India stands with Kerala in this hour of need.”

Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Show all 40 1 /40 Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India A man removes debris from a collapsed house after floods in Paravur Reuters Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India An ariel shot of Kerala from Thiruvanpuram Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Murgan and his family clean up their house in Mundancavu village at Chegannur upon returning home after the flood waters receded Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India People assess damage caused by floods on the outskirts of Kochi AP Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Men paddle their boat through the lawns of a partially submerged church at Kuttanad in Alleppey district Reuters Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Sandhya Biji and her son in front of their damaged house on the banks of Pamba river Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Border Security Force distribute food food and water to the residents who are stuck in their houses as well who have not vacated houses because of the flood water in interior places at Allapy Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India A damaged house on the banks of Pamba river Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Murgan cleaning up his house Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India An aerial view shows partially submerged houses at a flooded area in the southern state of Kerala Reuters Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Murgan and his family clean up their house Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India People are airlifted by the Indian Navy soldiers during a rescue operation Reuters Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India People wait for aid on the roof of their house Reuters Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Indian volunteers and rescue personal evacuate local residents AFP/Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Indian people use a boat to rescue an elderly man in the flooded water in Kochi EPA Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India An aerial view shows partially submerged houses at a flooded area in the southern state of Kerala Reuters Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India An Indian woman watches residents walking through flood streets next to their marooned houses AFP/Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Indian army personal evacuate local residents AFP/Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Indian commuters wade through flooded streets AFP/Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India People move past a flooded road in Thrissur AP Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Water gushes out following heavy rain and landslide in Kozhikode AP Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Fire and Rescue personnel evacuate local residents in an inflatable boat from a flooded area at Muppathadam near Eloor AFP/Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Indian residents look at the Shiva Temple submerged AFP/Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Roads and houses engulfed in water following heavy rain and landslide in Kozhikode. AP Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India People look at vehicles stuck in the mud AFP/Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India A young man wades through a flooded street in Kochi EPA Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Rescue operations being conducted at the landslide location at Kuttampuzha AFP/Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India An elderly woman is rescued in a cooking utensil AP Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Local residents look at a partially destroyed house after heavy monsoon rains led to a landslide in Kannappankund AFP/Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India An Indian woman sits inside her house immersed in flood waters in Ernakulam district of Kochi AFP/Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Indian fire and rescue personnel evacuate local resident AFP/Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India A woman stands at the door of her flooded home in Kochi EPA Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India India residents stand on the shore as Periyar river flooded AFP/Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India An Indian man carries a basket of bananas next to houses immersed in flood waters AFP/Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Laborers hailing from northern states wade through flood waters as they shift to higher ground AP Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan (L) along with opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala (2L) visit relief camp in Chengamanadu Government Higher Secondary School AFP/Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Athirampally Falls EPA Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India epa06939658 A structure is submerged in flood water following heavy rain in Kochi, Kerala state, India, 09 August 2018 (issued 10 August 2018). According to reports, the Indian state of Kerala has been hit by heavy rains, causing floods and killing at least 20 people. Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rain to continue on the 10 August. EPA/PRAKASH ELAMAKKARA PRAKASH ELAMAKKARA EPA Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Indian residents look at houses destroyed by flood waters at Kannappankundu AFP/Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Kochi's International airport apron flooded AFP/Getty Images

And Mr Modi pledged Rs 5bn (£55m) of emergency funding to Kerala after he flew over the disaster-stricken region on Saturday. That was only a quarter of the Rs 20bn the state government had asked for in immediate aid, but the office of the chief minister nonetheless tweeted to “express our thanks to the centre for [this] assistance”.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, aid workers warned it could yet be days before the full scale of the damage from the flooding becomes known.

Unusually strong monsoon rains finally eased off earlier this week, but vast swaths of the tropical state, known for its idyllic villages and beautiful beaches, remain underwater or coated with mud, and many people have no drinking water or electricity.

"We know the humanitarian needs are enormous, but it will be some time before we know just how big that is," Ray Kancharla, a manager with the aid group Save The Children, said in a statement.

Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala’s chief minister, sent out a message of greeting to those celebrating the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha in such challenging conditions.