Thiruvananthapuram: At least 26 people have been killed in floods in Kerala after heavy rains caused rivers to overflow, cutting off towns and villages. Five children are among the dead. There were fears the death toll could rise further as many people are missing.
Several houses were washed away and people became trapped in the district of Kottayam. Kottayam and Idukki are two of the worst affected districts in the state, where days of heavy rainfall have caused deadly landslides.
Swollen rivers have also washed away bridges connecting many small villages.
On Monday, a number of dams across the state were opened to reduce the risk of dangerous overflows.
The government had earlier said the decision on which dams to open would be made by an expert committee. "District collectors will be notified hours before opening the dams so that local people have enough time to evacuate," said the office of Kerala's chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan.
In 2018, more than 400 people died when heavy rains flooded the state. There was controversy over the fact that dams were opened without any warning to people living in low-lying areas.
Since the weekend, rescue teams have been moving families from vulnerable areas to safety. Thousands of people have been evacuated and 184 relief camps have been set up across Kerala, where more than 8,000 people are being provided food, bedding and clothing.
Military helicopters are being used to fly in supplies and personnel to areas where people are trapped, officials said. The government has also announced financial aid for those who have lost houses and crops. The weather bureau has predicted heavy, isolated rainfall in the state for up to four more days.
