Incessant rainfall which has been lashing Kerala since Wednesday (August 8) has brought life to a standstill. The torrential rainfall triggered landslides and flash floods in several parts of the state and has claimed 26 lives so far.

Kerala floods
Indian residents look at the Shiva Temple submerged after the release of water from Idamalayar dam following heavy rains in Kochi on August 9, 2018. - At least 20 people were killed on August 9 in landslides triggered by heavy rains in southern India, an official said, pushing the nationwide monsoon death toll for this year to over 700.AFP/Getty Images

Here are the LIVE updates:

  • The state disaster management officials have said that the death toll mounted to 28. 12 people have died in Idukki,  5 in Malappuram, 4 in Wayanad, 2 in Ernakulam, 2 in Kannur: 2 in Palakkad and 1 in Kozhikode, reported IE.
  • All 5 shutters of Cheruthoni Dam have been opened. People in Cheruthoni town have been evacuated. The bridge in the town, connecting north and south Idukki district, has been flooded due to incessant heavy rainfall in the region, reported ANI.
  • While a few people are reeling under the impact of the flood, residents of other  waterlogged areas are enjoying the heavy rains.
  • Around 60 people are stranded in a resort in Munnar, Kerala after the roads to the resort got blocked due to a landslide, reported ANI.
  • Malayalam film actor and producer has tweeted a picture of army personnel carrying out rescue operations on Kannur, Kerala.
  • A visual of the Idukki dam after the fourth gate was opened.
  • Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that he spoke to Kerala CM.
    "He is fully satisfied with the assistance of the central govt and he has told me that every department is cooperating well. If he needs any other assistance he will inform me," Rajnath added.
  • The Idukki dam authorities have raised the 4th shutter. It is being speculated that by 2 pm, around six lakh litres of water will be released per second.  
  • Flood like situations are cropping up in Kerala's Palakkad.
  • The Kerala CM is extensively working to provide relief to areas reeling under the impact of flood.
  • Here are a few photos tweeted by the Indian Coast Guard, while it was taking stock of the crisis caused by the flood in Kerala.
  • Wildlife has been affected in Wayanad.
  • The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds are likely to affect Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Wayanad districts, reported Indian Express.
  • Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi has offered all possible assistance to those affected in Kerala.
  • Visuals from Idukki:
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    Visuals from Idukki as heavy rain continues to lash Kerala.ANI
  • Kerala floods
    ANI
  • Kerala floods
    Visuals from Idukki as heavy rain continues to lash #KeralaANI
  • The Kerala CM said that three more shutters of the Idukki Cheruthoni dam have been raised and around 125 cusecs of water have been released.
  • The government of the neighbouring states of Kerala have announced monetary aid for the flood-affected state. While Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami has announced a contribution of Rs 5 crore, the Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy has also sent relief materials worth Rs 10 crore to Kerala.
    "Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy directed state Chief Secretary TM Vijaya Bhaskar to rush relief materials and a team of doctors to Kerala, reeling under heavy rains and flash floods," News 18 quoted the government as saying.
  • The Kerala government has imposed a ban on the movement of heavy and tourist vehicles in the high ranges of Idukki.
  • The CM has taken to Twitter to post latest updates on the rescue operations being carried out in the flooded areas.
  • NDRF teams have also been roped in to help in the rescue operations.
  • The Army has deployed more than 200 personnel  in flood-hit areas Idukki, Ayannkulu, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Mallapuram.
  • Visuals of a flooded Kerala:
  • Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted on Thursday evening that the trial run would continue through the night and even asked the people living in the downstream areas of the dam to be cautious.
  • However, in the evening the water level had gone way past 2,399 ft, which led the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to keep the trial run on through the night.
  • The middle shutter of the dam was lifted by 50 cms on a test basis for four hours. This released up to 50,000 litres of water per second.
Idukki falls
Water released from the idukki dam.
  • One of the floodgates of the Idukki reservoir, a double curvature arch dam constructed across the Periyar River, was opened after 26 years on Thursday (August 9).
  • Idukki district remained the worst affected with 20 deaths, of which five from one family lost their lives after their house caved in due to a mudslide
  • The rains have wreaked devastation in at least six districts and Idukki has borne the maximum brunt. 
  • Many parts of this southern state were waterlogged after 24 reservoirs, including the Idukki dam, were opened in an "unprecedented" development. This has caused flooding in several parts of the state.
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Several parts of Kerala are experiencing floods. [Representational Image]Reuters