Kerala Floods: Death toll rises to 167, rescue operations underway

ONI Bureau: Death toll due to devastating floods has raised to 167 with more than one lakh people living in relief camps across the state, informed Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today.

Torrential rains, overflowing rivers and a series of landslides have cut off vast land in the state. The Kochi International Airport has been shut till Aug 26 and Southern Railway and Kochi Metro have suspended their operations.

Kerala University has postponed all exams for graduate courses. The state government has also rescheduled Onam vacation for government schools from August 17 to August 29. More than 20,000 people have been put up in relief camps In Wayanad alone rrepotedly.

Centre on Thursday deployed all three wings of the armed forces in a massive rescue operation. 4 Capital Ships of Indian Coast Guard have reached Kochi and joined the Disaster and Relief Team. 24 teams are already working in flood affected villages. Indian Coast Guard so far has rescued 1764 people and guided 4688 people to safer locations.

Red alert has been issued in all 13 districts of Kerala except Kasaragod today.