Thiruvananthapuram: The intensity of rainfall in Kerala is likely to decline. According to the Met Department, a low-pressure area has been formed over the Bay of Bengal, the shores of West Bengal and Odisha and is moving towards the eastern Vidarbha and nearby regions.

This would reduce the fury of rain in Kerala. A red alert has been declared in 13 districts except Kasaragod. Rescue operations to save the flood victims are progressing.

On the seventh day of Operation Madad, Southern Naval Command deployed 21 rescue and diving teams with Gemini boats in flood-hit Kerala as the storm increased in the State.

As the flood situation is worsening day-by-day, a total of four teams went out on August 15 to join those already deployed in the areas.

The NDRF (National Disaster Response Force ) has already rescued around 4,000 persons who were trapped by floods and the Navy rescued 550 people.

Overall, five naval teams with five Gemini boats were deployed at different places in Wayanad district. Two teams were at Thalapuzha, and one team each at Porunnannur, Anchukunnu and Wayanad respectively.

The Wayanad team is assisting the civil administration in the distribution of relief material and vehicle management while the other four teams were deployed in general rescue operations.

Seven teams with one Gemini boat each are deployed in Ernakulam district and at various places.

One team is set up on Pizhala Island and is continuously patrolling the flood-hit area. The team has been communicating with the inhabitants of the island and providing assurances for their safety.

Two diving teams have been sent to North Paravur to undertake rescue operations.

Subsequently, based on a request received from District Collector, these two teams along with four more teams have proceeded to Aluva for augmenting rescue efforts there in light of the Periyar river being in spate.


As the flooding was reported near Varapuzha residential area, a primary school has been turned into a relief camp by Naval Armament Depot (NAD) wherein relocation of rescued persons is in progress.

Meals and lodging arrangements for rescued people have been arranged from the combined resources of Defence Services Corps (DSC), NAD and the civil administration.

A Medical Inspection (MI) room has also been set up with civil assistance for providing first aid to the rescued.