Kerala floods
View of a flooded area is pictured in the north part of Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala on August 18, 2018. - Rescuers in helicopters and boats fought through renewed torrential rain on August 18 to reach stranded villages in India's Kerala state as the toll from the worst monsoon floods in a century rose above 320 dead. (Photo by - / AFP) (Photo credit should read -/AFP/Getty Images)

The Indian Meteorological Department on Sunday withdrew the red alert which was announced in all 14 districts of flood-hit Kerala. The red alert has been withdrawn for the first time since August 9.

However, the Met department has issued an orange alert for 10 districts and a yellow alert for two districts. It has also predicted heavy rains in Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts.

Even though the Kerala government has said that as many as 58,506 people have been taken to safety, the state is still worried about thousands who still remain in the danger zone and are desperately awaiting rescue.

Chengannur has been experiencing an unprecedented flood situation for the last four days. The death toll rose to 357 as 197 people have died in the last 10 days.

Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the Kerala floods as a 'national calamity'. He also requested the Prime Minister to increase the financial aid. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken an aerial survey of the state on Saturday after which he announced Rs 500 crore financial aid to the state. 

Kerala floods: Here's how you can make your contribution to CM's Distress Relief Fund

Here are the LIVE Updates :

  • Kerala health department official has said that they are ready to deal with a possible outbreak of water-borne and air-borne diseases in the relief camps. Nearly two million people have been taking shelter since the past month.
  • The rainfall in Kerala will gradually decrease over the next five days according to the Met department. "It is expected that for the next 5 days there won't be heavy rainfall in Kerala, rainfall will gradually decrease over the state," Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, India Meteorological Department was quoted as saying by ANI.
  • The South Eastern Railway will run two special trains from Ernakulam to Santragachi/Howrah in West Bengal to evacuate stranded people. On a request from the West Bengal government, SER will run the two trains, which will commence the journey from Ernakulam at 6 pm and 9 pm today. Many tourists and other people on work from West Bengal have been stranded in Kerala.
  • The railways on Sunday issued a set of guidelines which will allow all government and private organisations to transport relief material to the flood-hit state. "No freight is to be charged for transportation of relief material to Kerala. That is to all stations in Kerala as of now," Indian Express quoted a railway official as saying.
  • The Rapid Action Force (RAF) is building a temporary bridge in Palakkad's Erumachery to block flooding water. "After dam gates were opened, overflowing water damaged roads in areas and entered paddy fields. Bridge will stop the overflow," RAF' Deputy Commandant told ANI.
  • The Defence Minister has shared a table on Twitter which shows the additional personnel and assets deployed for rescue and relief operations on Sunday morning.
    kerala relief work
  • A man who was rescued by the NCC Kottayam, took to Twitter to appreciate the efforts of the rescue team. "All the temples, mosques and churches here are drowned in water, but God came wearing uniforms to save us," he tweeted.
  • The Defence Ministry, on Sunday shared a tweet which said that the armed forces have rescued 23,213 people on Sunday while more than 2,000 people have been given medical aid. The relief teams have cleared 22 landslides and connectivity has been restored at 42 locations. It also said that 15 temporary bridges have also been constructed by the army.


  • #WATCH: Wing Commander Prasanth of Garud Special Force of Indian Air Force rescues a toddler from rooftop in flood hit town of Alappuzha. #KeralaFlood (Source IAF) pic.twitter.com/wT12zszMya
  • President Ram Nath Kovind spoke to the Kerala Governor and chief minister on Sunday and inquired about the flood situation. President Kovind acknowledged the grit and resilience of the people in Kerala for coming together in this trying hour. He assured Keralites that the entire nation is with them.
    He expressed satisfaction that both central and state governments were working together to carry out rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit state. Kovind also appreciated the efforts of the NDRF and public officials at the state and central level.
  • "58 of our NDRF teams are deployed across 8 districts of the state. They're carrying out rescue and evacuation work and extending medical emergency aids. Now that rain has subsided to some extent, our teams are being relocated partly to worst-affected areas," a top NDRF was quoted as saying by ANI.
  • Earlier today, the Navy also shared a map on Twitter showing various areas where teams have been deployed.
  • PTI reported that Attorney General KK Venugopal has donated Rs 1 crore to the relief fund while his son, senior advocate Krishnan Venugopal, has made a contribution of Rs 15 lakh.
  • Meanwhile, other state governments are doing their best to help Kerala in its difficult times. While Andhra Pradesh government has promised a financial aid of Rs 5 core, the Delhi, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana and Tamil Nadu governments have each promised Rs 10 crore as aid. The Telangana government has contributed Rs 25 crore while the Odisha government has given Rs 5 crore.
  • The RAF team on Sunday recovered a body from Nemmara landslide area in Palakkad district. A total of 10 bodies have been recovered from the area as landslides continue to occur in the area, ANI reported.
  • The water level in the Idukki reservoir stood at 2,402.28 ft while the water flow into the Periyar river is 913 cusec per hour. Two shutters have been closed, ANI reported.
  • "On 18 Aug, 18 sorties were carried out and 99 survivors were brought. Total 526 survivors have been winched up. 29 tonnes of total relief material air dropped, so far. 47,125 kg of food items & medicines have been distributed," Air Marshal B Suresh, Southern Air Command was quoted as saying by ANI.