Death toll due to floods in Karnataka has increased to 16 and in Kerala has gone up to 28 while lakhs have been displaced in the two states
Bengaluru: Rivers are swelling up and incessant rains have made life difficult for the people of Karnataka and Kerala. With more landslides reported in Kodagu, the death toll in Karnataka has risen to 16 and has increased to 28 in Kerala.
In Karnataka, chief minister BS Yediyurappa announced Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the next-of-kin of those who died due to flood and rain-related incidents in the state.
At least 15 districts in Karnataka are flood-hit, and daily life has been affected as most people are stranded awaiting help to reach safer place in Karnataka. In north Karnataka, coastal and Malnad regions of the state, at least 237 villages in 32 taluks are inundated.
In north Karnataka, Belagavi, Bagalkot, Vijayapura and Raichur reported floods due to heavy rains in Maharashtra that has led to the release of water into Krishna River that has flooded these regions.
Meanwhile the Kerala death toll has risen to 28.
Most roads are inundated, and the Kochi airport will remain shut till Sunday, 3pm. INS Garuda, the Naval air station at Kochi has opened for civilian flights.
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that apart from the increasing death toll, 27 people have been injured and 7 are missing.
Meanwhile, the water level in Periyar river and a canal near the airport has been rising.
A red alert has been issued for nine districts; Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod. So far more than 22,000 people have been evacuated and are currently in 315 camps set up across Kerala.
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