Thiruvananthapuram: Videos and images of August floods from last year were circulated on social media, causing panic among Keralites. The Kerala government has warned that strict action would be taken against people who spread fake news.

Heavy rains have caused the death of nearly 23 people in Kerala. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert in nine districts of the state. Red alerts have been issued in Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram, Palakkad, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasaragod and Kozhikode.

Until Friday morning (August 9), a total of 330 relief camps were set up, housing around 22,500 people. Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has said that the airport will not be operational till 3pm on August 11.

Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the PM has reportedly assured that assistance required to mitigate the effects of the disaster will be provided.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that a 24-hour control room has been made operational at the state police headquarters to help those affected by floods.

The state government also launched a new website called Kerala Rescue to coordinate relief work in the state. The website provides facilities like requests for help, enrolment for volunteer work, to send relief material based on needs of each district, search for missing persons, contact information of various department officials and announcements.

District emergency numbers are;

Trivandrum:  04712731177

Kollam: 04742793473

Pathanamthitta: 04682222505,04682322515

Alappuzha: 04772251720

Kottayam: 04812562001,9447029007

Idduki: 0486 2233111, 0486 2233130

Ernakulam: 0484 2423001

Thrissur: 0487 2362424, 9447074424

Palakkad: 0491 2505309, 2505209, 2505566

Malappuram: 0483 2736320, 0483 2736326

Kozhikode: 0495 2372966,04962620235,04952223088

Wayanad: 8078409770,04936204151

Kannur: 0497 2700645 0497 2713266 8547616034

Kasaragod: 04994255010