Ensure water level of Mullaperiyar Dam remain under control: SC

The Supreme Court on Friday asked Kerala's subcommittee to examine and find out ways to ensure that the water level in the Mullaperiyar Dam won't exceed 139 feet.

The Top Court further stated that it is not an expert body who will look into the Kerala flood issue, but has asked the National Crisis Management Committee's (NCMC) to scale up rescue, relief and rehabilitation programme across the state.

The Apex Court's order comes after petitioner Manoj George knocked the doors seeking a direction from Centre over the water level mark.

As per the latest reports, the death toll in Kerala floods has risen to 167. Around 15,000 people have been rescued from the flood-hit state in the last nine days. The numbers have been given by Army Karnataka and Kerala (K&K) Sub-Area, headquartered at Bengaluru, under the name, 'Operation Sahayog'.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that he will be visiting the state to review the situation. He took to social media to say, "Had a telephone conversation with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan just now. We discussed the flood situation across the state and reviewed rescue operations. Later this evening, I will be heading to Kerala to take stock of the unfortunate situation due to flooding."

Kerala has been witnessing incessant rain since past few days, causing flooding and landslide in the state. Following that, the Centre has launched massive rescue and relief operations in the state owing to the flood situation, which is worsening by the day.