Kerala floods: Toll goes up to 35, 27 injured, 7 missing

The IMD has predicted heavy rains in Kerala till August 14. Red alerts have been issued in Idukki, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kozhikode districts.

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As incessant rains continued to wreak havoc in Kerala leading to a flood-like situation, 14 people have died since yesterday and over 22,000 have been evacuated to 315 relief camps.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sought the army's help and additional 13 more units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for the relief and rescue operations.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi stepped in to help people of his constituency and ensured that he would speak to PM Narendra Modi to see maximum help is extended to Wayanad. In Wayanad, a huge landslide at Meppadi has marooned around 2,000 people. A temple, mosque and estate workers quarters have collapsed in the area.

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The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rains in the state till August 14. Red alerts have been issued in Idukki, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kozhikode districts. Barring the state capital district and neighbouring Kollam, the remaining 12 districts have been affected by rains.

The Kerala government has declared holiday for all schools across the state for Friday and university examinations have been postponed in the affected districts.

With Cochin International Airport flooded, operations have been suspended till 3 pm on Sunday.

Here are the latest updates:

11:08: A total of 35 deaths have been reported today. Seven people have been reported missing and 27 injured.

9:39: The Met department has issued a red alert in Ernakulam, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur for August 10.

9:19: Nineteen trains have been cancelled due to heavy rainfall in the state.

8:30 pm: At least 40 people are feared trapped under debris in major landslides that shook the badly affected districts of Wayanad and Malappuram, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

7:20 pm: Twenty eight people have died, 27 have been injured and seven are missing following heavy rainfall in Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told ANI.

6:49 pm: In a joint operation, rescue agencies have managed to evacuate 194 people after the landslide in Wayanad in Kerala. NDRF team operational at Malappuram evacuated around 27 people from flood-affected areas, today. Also, 13 NDRF teams are deployed in Kerala.

6:20: Southern Railway has suspended operations on two routes and cancelled over 20 trains due to floods caused by torrential rains in various regions of Palakkad division in Kerala.

Southern Railway, in a release, said that services on a 100-km stretch from Palakkad to Kuttipuram that runs parallel to Bharathappuzha River and from Feroke to Kallai have been suspended. "Track has been suspended on these sections from 12.45 hours on August 9," the release read.

4:53: Around 30 families are feared missing after landslide occurred at Kavalappara, Nilambur in Malappuram district yesterday. A rescue team has reached the spot today. Search and rescue operation is underway.

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3:40 pm: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that a 24-hour control room has been set up at the State Police headquarters to assist those affected by the rains. He also said that affected people can reach the emergency response centre by calling 112, Skymet quoted.

2:55 pm: 7 districts on red alert for tomorrow- Ernakulam, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur. Orange alert issued in 5 districts- Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Thrissur and Kasargod.

2:30 pm: CM Vijayan will conduct an aerial survey at 4 pm today.

1:50 pm: While briefing the media after chairing a high-level review meeting on the flood situation, CM Pinarayi Vijayan assured that the state government has taken all measures to deal with emergency situations as heavy rains have been predicted for next three days. Read the full story here.

1:30 pm: A total of 6 bodies have been recovered so far, from Meppadi in Wayanad district, where a landslide occurred yesterday.

1:00 pm: Indian Navy opens its airport INS Garuda for civil aircraft operations in Kochi due to non-availability of the civilian airport there, says Navy spokesperson Captain DK Sharma.

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12:30 pm: Water levels have risen to dangerous levels in some rivers. Extremely heavy rainfall expected in next 24 hours along with strong winds. Heavy rainfall expected in hilly areas.

12:25 pm: Monsoon mayhem in several parts of India. Read live updates here.

12:20 pm: 29 dead in Maharashtra floods. Follow live updates here.

12:15 pm: 22 people have died in Kerala in rain-related incidents.

12:05 pm: Landslide in Karimba Chullikayam estate in Kerala's Pallakad district.

12:00 pm: Nehru Trophy boat race in Kerala, which happens in Allapuzha has been postponed due to the heavy rains.

11:30 am: Red alert issued in 9 districts of Kerala which are expected to receive extremely heavy rainfall- Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Kannur. Orange alert in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam districts.

11:20 am: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi today about the flood situation in Kerala and sought assistance for those affected in the state, including in his constituency Wayanad. Rahul Gandhi called PM Modi and asked for relief and assistance for those affected.

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10:50 am: Watch the ground report on how floods are wreaking havoc in Kerala.

10:45 am: Review meeting chaired by CM Pinarayi Vijayan underway. The CM will brief the press in a while.

10.20 am: Army deployed from Pangode military station Thiruvananthapuram

Total 3 columns deployed at:
1) Alappuzha: Headed by Lt Col
2) Pathanamthitta: Headed by Major
3) Ernakulam: Headed by Major

10:00 am: Around 60 people rescued and evacuated from Wayanad landslide area by the NDRF. It should take 10-12 hours for operations to complete. The landslide extends upto 2 kms. CM Vijayan will review the flood situation at 10 am at his conference Hall and likely to brief the media after the meeting.

9:50 am: Follow all the live updates on Karnataka floods here.

9:45 am: 54 people have been rescued by NDRF from Puthumala near Meppadi in Wayanad, which was hit by a landslide. Around 100 people have been rescued so far.

9:30 am: Streets flooded in Areekode town of Kozhikode district due to heavy rainfall in the region.

9:20 am: Water enters houses in Muvattupuzha town of Ernakulam district. The region is reeling under flood due to rainfall.

9:15 am: DSC Centre in Kannur is deploying total six columns of Army in the northern districts of Kerala and Karnataka's Coorg. One column each at:
1. Wayanad- Kalpetta
2. Virajpet- Coorg
3. Kannur
4. Iritty
5. Kozhikode
6. Thamarassery

9:10 am: Traffic through Pattambi bridge has been shut. Bharathapuzha River has swollen and water has started flowing over the top of the bridge.

8:50 am: 14 people have died in rain-related incidents in the state since yesterday.

8:45 am: Four members of a family died after their house collapsed due to mudslide in Edavanna region in Malappuram district.

8:40 am: Two bodies have been recovered from Meppadi in Wayanad district, where a landslide occurred yesterday.

8:35 am: Kerala government declares holiday for the day for all schools across the state.

8:25 am: 22,165 people have been evacuated to safety and lodged in 315 camps across the state, says Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KDSM).

8:15 am: Rescue operations underway in Puthumala, Wayanad after a landslide occurred yesterday.

8:00 am: Operations suspended at the Cochin International Airport till August 11 (Sunday), 3 pm.

7:45 am: Flooding in Nilambur city due to incessant rainfall.