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Kerala floods: fears thousands still trapped as waters recede Kerala flood waters recede as thousands remain trapped
(about 1 hour later)
Flood waters have receded in the southern India state of Kerala, allowing authorities to retrieve the bodies of victims and residents to start assessing the damage to their homes after the worst monsoon rains in a century. Flood waters have receded in the southern Indian state of Kerala, allowing authorities to retrieve the bodies of victims and enabling residents to start assessing the damage to their homes after the worst monsoon rains in a century.
Rains that have battered the south Indian state for the past 12 days are relenting and authorities say 90% of rescue operations are now complete, though thousands of people are still feared to be trapped in the worst-hit areas. Rains that have battered theregion for the past 12 days were relenting and authorities said 90% of rescue operations were now complete, though thousands of people were still feared to be trapped in the worst-hit areas.
Maintaining sanitation and preventing disease in relief camps housing more than 800,000 people was now the priority, the Kerala health minister, KK Shailaja, said. Authorities are also seeking to restore regular supplies of clean drinking water and electricity to the state’s 33 million residents. Maintaining sanitation and preventing disease in relief camps housing more than 800,000 people was now the priority, the Kerala health minister, KK Shailaja, said. Authorities were also seeking to restore regular supplies of clean drinking water and electricity to the state’s 33 million residents.
Officials said 22,000 people were rescued on Sunday and at least 30 bodies were discovered, taking the death toll above 200 for the past fortnight, when rainfall was up to two and a half times heavier than usual. More than 400 people have died since the monsoon started in May. Officials said 22,000 people were rescued on Sunday and at least 30 bodies were found, taking the death toll above 200 in the past fortnight, when rainfall was up to two and a half times heavier than usual. More than 400 people have died since the monsoon started in May.
Thousands of army, navy and air force personnel have fanned out to help those stranded in remote and hilly areas. Dozens of helicopters have been dropping tonnes of food, medicine and water over areas cut off due to damaged roads and bridges. Thousands of army, navy and air force personnel have been deployed to help those stranded in remote and hilly areas. Dozens of helicopters have been dropping tonnes of food, medicine and water over areas cut off by damaged roads and bridges.
At least 1,000 were feared stranded in five villages around Chengannur, one of the districts worst hit by the deluge.At least 1,000 were feared stranded in five villages around Chengannur, one of the districts worst hit by the deluge.
In another badly hit area, Thrissur, rescuers searched inundated houses where they found the bodies of those trapped by the fast-rising flood waters.In another badly hit area, Thrissur, rescuers searched inundated houses where they found the bodies of those trapped by the fast-rising flood waters.
“They didn’t think that it would rise this high – 10 to 15 feet (3m to 4.5m) at some places – when the initial warnings were issued,” said Ashraf Ali KM, who is leading the search in the small town of Mala in Thrissur. “They didn’t think that it would rise this high – 10 to 15 feet (3m to 4.5m) at some places – when the initial warnings were issued,” said Ashraf Ali KM, who is leading the search in the small Thrissur town of Mala.
An Indian navy team built a temporary rope bridge across a stream in Thrissur on Sunday to rescue 100 people stranded for days. An Indian navy team built a temporary rope bridge across a stream in Thrissur on Sunday to rescue 100 people who had been stranded for days.
Waters have receded in parts of Pandalam, a central Kerala town, and some residents are returning to take stock. Waters had receded in parts of Pandalam, a central Kerala town, and some residents were returning home.
Abdul Samad, a 56-year-old fish seller, scooped water and garbage from his devastated concrete home in the town. Abdul Samad, a 56-year-old fish seller, scooped water and rubbish from his devastated concrete home. “When the flood waters came, we were not anticipating a calamity of this kind,” he told Reuters. “But minute by minute the water level began to rise.”
“When the flood waters came, we were not anticipating a calamity of this kind,” he told Reuters. “But minute by minute the water level began to rise.” The family had no time to save anything they owned, and fled as water poured over the wall and into their home.
The family had no time to save anything they owned, and fled as water poured over the wall and into the home. Fishermen have sailed inland from Kerala’s coast to join the search, volunteers have set up soup kitchens and an international appeal had been made for financial help.
Fishermen have sailed inland from Kerala’s coast to join the search, as volunteers set up soup kitchens and an international appeal was made for financial help. The state government said each boat would get 3,000 rupees (£34) for each day of their work and that authorities would pay for any damage to the vessels.
The state government said each boat would get 3,000 rupees (£34) for each day of their work and that authorities would pay for any damage to the crafts.
Officials have estimated more than 83,000km of roads will need to be repaired and that the overall recovery will cost at least £2.4bn.Officials have estimated more than 83,000km of roads will need to be repaired and that the overall recovery will cost at least £2.4bn.
Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this reportReuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report
IndiaIndia
FloodingFlooding
Natural disasters and extreme weatherNatural disasters and extreme weather
South and Central AsiaSouth and Central Asia
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