The Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Kochi for an aerial survey of the flood devastation of Kerala as 13 of the 14 districts are under the biggest flood of the century. However he could not take the aerial survey due to inclement weather.
At least 419 dead and more than 600 others are missing as God's own country Kerala has been going through a catastrophic natural disaster, the South India have never witnessed since independence.
The Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister K M Vijayan had a review meeting at Kochi.
The city Kochi is completely cut off from the rest the world and almost all the major tourist destinations are out of bounds. The worst is that met office have predicted more rain today.
Nearly 2 lakh people have been displaced as Navy and neighbouring states, railways have mounted a massive exercise but only to be dwarfed by the gigantic destruction.
Nearly 70 per cent of Kerala is without power and both flight and railway transportation have been affected. The state, battling floods and landslides, plunged deeper into crisis today, with hospitals facing shortage of oxygen and fuel stations running dry. Rescue efforts have been progressing on a war footing and Mr Vijayan said he has spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will reach Kerala later in the night.
" Kerala is facing its worst flood in 100 years. 80 dams opened, 324 lives lost and 223139 people are in about 1500+ relief camps," read a tweet from the Chief Minister's Office.
Till now, 42 Navy, 16 Army, 28 Coast Guard and 39 National Disaster Relief Force teams were engaged in rescue operations. Another 14 NDRF teams are expected to reach shortly. The military has pushed in more than 200 boats. Another four aircraft and three Coast Guard ships have also been brought in to Kerala.
Flood waters from the Periyar river and its tributaries have submerged many towns in Ernakulam and Thrissur. An alarming situation has developed in Alapuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Pathanamthitta districts, where roads have become completely submerged.
