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| Kerala floods: PM Modi inspects flood rescue effort | Kerala floods: PM Modi inspects flood rescue effort |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flown over some of the worst-hit areas of flooding in the southern state of Kerala that has killed 324 people. | |
| Mr Modi has also met senior state officials to discuss measures to deal with what they say is the state's worst flooding in a century. | |
| More than 200,000 people are homeless, with reports of hundreds stranded on rooftops awaiting aid. | |
| Troops backed by military helicopters are involved in a huge rescue effort. | Troops backed by military helicopters are involved in a huge rescue effort. |
| Weeks of rain triggered landslides and floods, with more forecast and a red alert in place. Strong winds are also predicted for Saturday and Sunday. | |
| Across India close to 1,000 people have been killed in the current rainy season, which began in June, officials say. | Across India close to 1,000 people have been killed in the current rainy season, which began in June, officials say. |
| "We are deploying more boats and the army to ramp up rescue operations," state government official PH Kurian told AFP news agency. | "We are deploying more boats and the army to ramp up rescue operations," state government official PH Kurian told AFP news agency. |
| Helicopters have airlifted emergency supplies to many areas and special trains that carry drinking water have been sent to the state. | Helicopters have airlifted emergency supplies to many areas and special trains that carry drinking water have been sent to the state. |
| How serious is the flooding? | How serious is the flooding? |
| Kerala's chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, says the flooding is the worst the state has seen in 100 years. | |
| He told reporters that more than 223,000 people were now living in more than 1,500 emergency relief camps set up in the area. | He told reporters that more than 223,000 people were now living in more than 1,500 emergency relief camps set up in the area. |
| Parts of Kerala's commercial capital, Cochin, are under water, snarling up roads and leaving railways across the state impassable. | Parts of Kerala's commercial capital, Cochin, are under water, snarling up roads and leaving railways across the state impassable. |
| Some local plantations are reported to have been inundated, endangering the local rubber, tea, coffee and spice industries. | Some local plantations are reported to have been inundated, endangering the local rubber, tea, coffee and spice industries. |
| Schools in all 14 districts of Kerala have been closed and some districts have banned tourists, citing safety concerns. | Schools in all 14 districts of Kerala have been closed and some districts have banned tourists, citing safety concerns. |
| What is the government doing? | What is the government doing? |
| Prime Minister Modi arrived in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram, on Friday and flew to Cochin early on Saturday. He then chaired a meeting of officials to take stock of the situation, before conducting an aerial survey of the worst affected areas, Indian media reported. | |
| The country's home minister has also offered his support for Kerala. | The country's home minister has also offered his support for Kerala. |
| Anil Vasudevan, the head of the Kerala health disaster response wing, has said they are prepared to help victims and are planning for the risk of water-borne diseases when the flooding recedes. | |
| Why is the situation so bad? | Why is the situation so bad? |
| It is normal for Kerala to get some of the country's highest rainfall during monsoon season, but the India Meteorological Department said it had been hit with 37% more than usual because of a spell of low pressure over the region. | It is normal for Kerala to get some of the country's highest rainfall during monsoon season, but the India Meteorological Department said it had been hit with 37% more than usual because of a spell of low pressure over the region. |
| Further downpours are forecast for the weekend, leading many to fear the situation may get worse. | Further downpours are forecast for the weekend, leading many to fear the situation may get worse. |
| Environmental scientists are also blaming deforestation, especially the failure to protect ecologically fragile mountain ranges in the area, local media report. | Environmental scientists are also blaming deforestation, especially the failure to protect ecologically fragile mountain ranges in the area, local media report. |
| Mr Vijayan, the region's chief minister, has said the situation in Kerala has been made worse by neighbouring governments. | Mr Vijayan, the region's chief minister, has said the situation in Kerala has been made worse by neighbouring governments. |
| Earlier this week, he and his counterpart in Tamil Nadu entered a public spat over the release of water from a dam. | Earlier this week, he and his counterpart in Tamil Nadu entered a public spat over the release of water from a dam. |
| Kerala has 41 rivers flowing into the Arabian Sea, and 80 of its dams are now said to be open after being overwhelmed. | Kerala has 41 rivers flowing into the Arabian Sea, and 80 of its dams are now said to be open after being overwhelmed. |
| "Almost all dams are now opened. Most of our water treatment plants are submerged. Motors are damaged," Mr Vjayan said. | "Almost all dams are now opened. Most of our water treatment plants are submerged. Motors are damaged," Mr Vjayan said. |
| 'Neck-deep water' | 'Neck-deep water' |
| BBC Tamil's Pramila Krishnan spoke to people who had escaped the flooding in Cochin. | BBC Tamil's Pramila Krishnan spoke to people who had escaped the flooding in Cochin. |
| Krishna Jayan, 58, said she was at home sleeping when her friend woke her up. | Krishna Jayan, 58, said she was at home sleeping when her friend woke her up. |
| "I opened the door and water gushed in," she said. "When we stepped into the street, we were neck-deep in water." | "I opened the door and water gushed in," she said. "When we stepped into the street, we were neck-deep in water." |
| She said locals had tied ropes along the streets to help people walk through the water, allowing her and her friend to reach a bus to escape. | She said locals had tied ropes along the streets to help people walk through the water, allowing her and her friend to reach a bus to escape. |