NEW DELHI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The situation in India's southernmost flood-hit state Kerala continues to be grim, even as the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is camping there since Friday night, and scheduled to take an aerial survey of the ravaged areas on Saturday.
Almost whole of the coastal state has been affected, as a red alert has been sounded in 13 out of the total 14 districts. The floods are said to be worst ever in past 100 years.
The quantum of damage could be gauged from the fact that so far the official death toll is said to be around 324. The exact quantum of damages to life and property is yet to estimated. More than 230,000 people have been put in over 1,500 relief camps, even as over 100,000 are still marooned, after been rendered homeless.
Rigorous efforts are being carried out by all the three wings of defence forces - army, navy and air force, to bring out people from the flood-affected areas.
The Indian Navy's Southern Naval Command (SNC) deployed a total of 58 rescue and diving teams with special "Gemini" boats in multiple locations on Friday, the ninth day of "Operation Help". As many as 18 more teams were sent out to various locations to augment the rescue teams.
So far more than 3,000 people have been rescued by the SNC, and continuous efforts are on to bring the flood affected people to safety and also provide them essential relief supplies such as food and water, said an official statement.
According to official sources, at least 37 teams with one Gemini boat each are deployed in Ernakulam district at various places. One team is at Pizhala island, one at Edapally and three at Perumbavur. The North Paravur area has the most number of teams deployed i.e. 16, while 12 are at Aluva and four at Muvattupuzha areas, said the sources.
In Thrissur district, the deployment at Chalakkudy has also been augmented to nine teams, while in Pothanamthitta district, four teams are deployed in Chengannur, and one team each in Ayroor and Pollad. One team is positioned in Kottayam.
