The death toll in the rain wrecked Kerela have crossed 40 as rain continued to thunder for 4 consecutive days forcing authorities to open a dam after 26 years.
The rain have battered the entire state and it has come to standstill.
The army has been pressed into service, helicopters have been recuing marooned people including 60 tourists from a resort at Munnar. Indian Navy have launched "Opertaion Madad" to help the State authorities to combat the situation.
As many as 440 relief camps were opened where 54500 people have taken shelter. The met office have predicted more rain in the next 24 hours.
The State Disaster Management Authority issued a red alert for eight districts following a heavy rainfall warning by the weather office. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services has also issued a tidal flooding alert for Kerala from August 11 to 15.
Idukki and Ernakulam districts were put on high alert and the district administration began preparations to evacuate families in anticipation of a flood situation following the decision to raise the shutters of the Cheruthoni dam to release excess water from the Idukki reservoir. Over 6,500 families were expected to be evacuated from the downstream areas of the Periyar river up to Aluva in Ernakulam.
