Reuters, Bengaluru :
The worst floods in a century in the Indian state of Kerala have killed 164 people and forced more than 200,000 into relief camps, officials said on Friday, with more misery expected as heavy rain pushed water levels higher.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was due to visit the southwest state later on Friday as its chief minister said he was hoping the military could step up help for the rescue effort which is already using dozens of helicopters and hundreds of boats.
“I spoke to the defense minister this morning and asked for more helicopters,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told a news conference in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram, adding that he planned to send 11 more helicopters to worst-hit places.
“In some areas, airlifting is the only option … thousands are still marooned.”
The floods began nine days ago and Vijayan said 164 people had been killed – some in landslides – with about 223,000 people forced into 1,568 relief camps.
Kerala is a major destination for both domestic and foreign tourists.
The airport in the main commercial city of Kochi has been flooded and operations suspended until Aug. 26 with flights being diverted to two other airports in the state.
The office of the chief minister said heavy rain was falling in some places on Friday. More showers are expected over the weekend.
Modi said on Twitter he would travel to Kerala “to take stock of the unfortunate situation”.
State officials have put the death toll at 164 since Aug. 8.
Monsoon rains kill hundreds of people every year in India. The season runs from June to September.
The monsoon flooding has severely hit 12 of Kerala’s 14 districts, affecting the lives of more than 200,000 people with hundreds of homes damaged since June. Crops over 32,500 hectares (80,300 acres) of land have also been damaged, the Home Ministry said.
The international airport at Kochi, a major port city, has suspended flight operations until Saturday after the runway was flooded. Authorities also asked tourists to stay away from the popular hill station of Munnar in Idukki district because of flooding.
India’s National Emergency Response Center said more than 800 people have lost their lives in seven states since the start of the monsoon season in June. A total of 247 people have died in Kerala, 190 in Uttar Pradesh, 183 people in West Bengal, 139 in Maharashtra, 52 in Gujarat, 45 in Assam and 11 in Nagaland state, the Press Trust of India reported.
