India - Kerala Floods

Mon, 20 Aug 2018 05:58:00 +02:00

Following unprecedented flooding in Kerala State, the death toll has risen to 324 since 8 August and has tripled over the last 24 hours. Numbers are likely to increase. Reports from Kerala indicate that many bodies trapped by landslides are yet to be retrieved.
Nearly 223 000 people are reportedly staying in 1 568 relief camps. Search and rescue operations are being undertaken by the Indian Army, Navy, Airforce and the National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF). Local fishermen have joined the rescue efforts in places like Aluva, Kalady Perumbavoor Muvattupuzha and Chalakudy. The Indian Railways has supplied 0.28 million litres of drinking water to Kerala.
Lack of liquid oxygen supply, diesel stock to run generators and staff shortage (-30%) are major constraints for hospitals to deal with the increasing number of patients and bed occupancy rates (+80-90%)
The State Government of Kerala is estimating the losses to be approximately INR 20 000 crore (EUR 2 500 million).
The Indian Meteorological Department of Thiruvananthapuram has issued a red alert for ten districts (Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram & Kozhikode). Rain intensity is expected to decrease by 20 August.