Let up in rains in Ker; situation grim in Karna; toll now 91

After incessant rains pounded the southern states over the last few days, taking a combined toll of 91, there was a let up in the downpour in Kerala, while the situation remained grim in Karnataka, where union home minister Amit Shah undertook an aerial survey of affected areas.

The toll in the monsoon fury in Kerala mounted to 60 with over 2.27 lakh people being sheltered in relief camps across the state.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reviewed the flood situation at a meeting with senior officials on Sunday morning and later told reporters that the toll in rain-related incidents since August 8 has touched 60.

About 2.27 lakh people have been shifted to 1,551 relief camps, he said.

India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for rains for three districts -- Kannur, Kasaragod and Wayand.

Vijayan also said the water level in major dams was not a cause of worry as of now. Idukki Dam,one of the biggest in the state, now had only 36.61 per cent of capacity, he added.

In the worst-hit Puthumala in Wayanad, which was struck by a massive landslide on August 8, Vijayan said eight people were still missing and search operations were on for them.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived on a two-day visit to Kerala this afternoon and would visit his Lok Sabha constituency Wayanad, which is among the badly affected.

He is expected to visit relief camps at Kottakal in Nilambur, Mambad, Edavannappara and attend a review meeting at the Malappuram collectorate, Congress sources said.

Gandhi will visit affected areas in Wayanad on Monday.

Flight operations from the international airport at Kochi resumed on Sunday afternoon, two days after it was shut due to inundation of the runway area following heavy rains.

The Abu Dhabi-Kochi Indigo flight touched down at around 12.15 pm, marking resumption of the operations.

The Southern Railway on Sunday fully cancelled 10 trains, partially cancelled seven services and diverted two trains
This is the second consecutive year that the floods and landslides have ravaged Kerala, which is yet to recover from the devastating deluge that claimed over 400 lives last year and had rendered lakhs homeless. PTI RRT TGB UD