324 confirmed dead in India flood crisis

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As many as 324 people have died in India's Kerala state in what is said to be the southern state's worst monsoon in almost a century.

The death toll in rain-related incidents since May 29 stands at 324, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office told the media Friday evening.

Kerala has been battered by record monsoon rainfall this year and is "facing the worst floods in 100 years," Vijayan said in a Twitter statement.

With thousands still trapped, power and communication lines down and fresh alerts of further torrential rain, authorities warned of more trouble ahead and expected the death toll to rise.

Indian volunteers and rescue personnel evacuate local residents in a boat in a residential area in the Indian state of Kerala, August 17, 2018. /VCG Photo

More than 30 military helicopters and 320 boats are attempting rescues across Kerala.

Authorities said thousands of people have been taken to safety areas so far but 6,000 more are still waiting for rescue.

Helicopters have also been dropping emergency food and water supplies, while special trains carrying drinking water have been sent to Kerala.

People are airlifted by Indian Navy soldiers during a rescue operation at a flooded area in the southern state of Kerala, India, August 17, 2018. /VCG Photo

Apart from the casualties, over 200,000 people have been displaced, and more than 10,000 kilometers of roads and hundreds of homes were destroyed or damaged across the state.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been camping in Kerala since Friday night. He is scheduled to take an aerial survey of the ravaged areas on Saturday.

North and central Kerala have been worst-hit by the floods with the international airport in the main city of Kochi shut until at least August 26.

Source(s): AFP ,Xinhua News Agency