People in the Indian state of Kerala waited on the rooftops for rescue teams as the government scrambled helicopters and navy boats. The catastrophe has claimed hundreds of lives.
Army rescuers help a survivor out of a boatImage: Reuters/Sivaram V
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Deadly flooding in India
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At least 324 people have died due to flooding and landslides in India's southern state of Keralasince the monsoon season started about three months ago, officials said on Friday. While Kerala is regularly pounded by monsoons, this year's flooding, exacerbated by flash landslides, is the worst in nearly a century.
The state faces an "extremely grave" crisis, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.
Despite the torrential rain stopping on Friday, more downpours are expected in the coming days. At least one irrigation dam burst, causing a deadly landslide since the flooding started last week. Another 80 reached danger levels, according to Vijayan.
India's Kerala state witnesses worst floods in century
Hundreds of troops have been called in to help rescue people stranded by monsoon flooding in India's southern state of Kerala . More than 300 people have died and tens of thousands have sought refuge in relief camps.
Image: picture-alliance
Coming to the rescue
A man rescues a drowning man as monsoon rains cause flash floods and landslides in the southern Indian state of Kerala. More than 200,000 people have been forced to take shelter in relief camps.
Image: Reuters//Sivaram V
Flooded streets
Witnesses say that looking down on towns in flooded Kerala is like looking down on a sea dotted with houses and cars in muddy flood waters. Rescue teams, including military personnel, have stepped up efforts to evacuate thousands of people trapped by the waters.
Image: picture-alliance
Floodgates opened
People are being evacuated after authorities opened the gates of Idamalayar, Cheruthoni and Mullaperiyar dams to prevent potentially disastrous breaches. Authorities have taken the unprecedented step of opening the floodgates of 80 water reservoirs so far.
Image: Reuters//Sivaram V
Massive rescue operation
Hundreds of troops have led a desperate operation to rescue families trapped by rising floods. Helicopters have been used to airlift stranded victims from rooftops and to drop food and water packages in the worst-affected areas.
Image: Reuters//Sivaram V
Landslides follow the rain
Heavy rains over the past eight days triggered flooding, landslides and home and bridge collapses, severely disrupting air and train services in Kerala state, a popular tourist destination. Landslides have also contributed to the death toll.
Image: Getty Images/AFP
Monsoon fury
Monsoon rains kill hundreds of people every year in India. The season runs from June to September. Kerala has been hit with 37 percent more rainfall than normal since the beginning of this monsoon, the Meteorological Department said.
Image: IANS
Brief respite from rains
With heavy rains stopping after a week, rescuers moved quickly to take people marooned by floods to 1,500 state-run camps. With the weather department expecting rains to continue into the weekend, the state remains on high alert.
Authorities deployed helicopters and navy boats as residents gathered on the rooftops or higher ground areas. The army, navy and coastguards were involved with the evacuation. At least 6,500 remained stranded as of Thursday evening.
Over 200,000 people have sought shelter in one of the 1,500 camps across the state.
Dog saves family
On Monday, Indian media reported that a family was saved by its dog. The dog apparently started barking in the middle of the night, waking the household and prompting them to leave the house minutes before it was destroyed by a landslide.
"I went out to see and we had to just rush out of the house," Mohanan P. told Indian news network NDTV.
The entire family, including the dog, is now safe in one of the relief camps.
Heavy flooding brings destruction to southern India: Sonia Phalnikar from Delhi
