Several areas in Kottayam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam are submerged in water as authorities continue to provide relief to the affected people.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The death toll in Kerala in the heaviest rains in five years and floods has touched 16.More than 70,000 people have been shifted to 524 relief camps across the State.
The Met office has predicted more rains in the next four-five days and it may advance towards the northern parts of the state.
Kerala has received 18 per cent more rains in 2018 and has now recorded the highest in the five year period, the Met figures showed.
At Kottayam, the worst affected were the low-lying areas. Residents and rescue teams transported more than 50 people to relief camps on boats from these areas.
High waves continued to pound the coastal areas, devouring large stretches of the beach and damaging houses and property.Floodwaters breached bunds, flooding paddy fields and destroying crops in hundreds of hectares.
A 45-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has been deployed to carry out relief operations.Several areas in Kottayam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam are submerged in water as authorities continue to provide relief to the affected people.
Many relief camps were also inundated.Road and rail traffic were affected due to water-logging in many parts of the state.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan ordered district officials on Wednesday to immediately release an amount of Rs. 1,000 each to all those who are in these camps on or before July 17 even if they have gone home.
