Death toll in Kerala floods touches 357; 'In middle of disaster,' says CM Vijayan

Three more teams of NDRF have been moved from Pune to Kerala. Earlier, four teams had been sent. A total of seven NDRF teams from Pune have been sent for rescue operations.

Besides Telangana state government contribution of Rs 25 Crore to Kerala, I personally pledge my 1-month salary to flood relief. I request my colleague legislators to also contribute as much as possible: Telangana Municipal Administration & IT Minister KT Rama Rao 

"We are in the middle of a disaster, we need unite as one to tackle it," says Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during a press meet.

"A total of 33 people have died in the state today," he added. The overall death touches 357.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje announces financial assistance of Rs 10 crores from the state government for flood-hit Kerala.

Air relief and rescue effort of Indian Air Force continues in the flood-affected areas of Kerala with focus on the critical areas of Chalakudy and Chengannur. So far, 451 civilians have been rescued by Mi-17 & ALH helicopters and 17 tonnes of food packets air dropped. pic.twitter.com/pTaRxtBL3z

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018

67 helicopters, 24 aircraft, 548 motorboats and thousands of rescue personnel from Navy, Army, Air Force, NDRF, Coast Guard, other CAPFs pressed into service to evacuate people from submerged areas to relief camps and distribute relief materials: National Crisis Management Committee.

Kochi naval air strip to be made available for commercial aircraft from Monday: Government

#TamilNadu: Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam visits Elachipalayam bridge area in Theni district where road was washed away following heavy rain in the region. pic.twitter.com/RCyIpLNaa4

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur announces Rs 5 crore for flood-hit Kerala.

Operation Madad Air rescue has been carried out at various places of the 3 badly affected districts;Thrissur, Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta, in Kerala. Various aircraft including ALH, Sea King, Chetak and MI 17 (of IAF) rescued more than 154 people till now.

#Kerala: Relief material being dropped by Indian Air Force in Alappuzha district's Chengannur. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/lHF75DHVZv

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018

Operation Madad scaled up for rescue in many parts of Kerala. SNC rescue teams augmented by Gemini boats, divers and other resources from both Eastern and Western Naval Commands of the India Navy. 72 diving teams deployed across multiple locations in Kerala.

#OperationMadad scaled up for rescue in many parts of Kerala. SNC rescue teams augmented by Gemini boats, divers and other resources from both Eastern and Western Naval Commands of the India Navy. 72 diving teams deployed across multiple locations in Kerala. #KeralaFloods

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi hits out at PM Modi, says Rs 500 crore not enough.

Dear PM,

Increasing funds allocated for Kerala relief to Rs.500 Cr is a good step but nowhere near enough. It is critical you declare the floods as a National Disaster. Please do not vacillate as the people of Kerala are suffering. #KeralaFloodRelief https://t.co/AxabEOHftR

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 18, 2018

Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda is monitoring Kerala floods situation on a continuous basis. Government of India is coordinating with Kerala and working towards providing them medicines needed for post-flood prevention of vector-borne disease, acute diarrhoeal diseases, zoonotic diseases, snake bites and dog bites besides focusing on disinfection of drinking water sources. Other states in the country have also come forward to support Kerala in conjunction with Government of India for such supplies: ANI

In view of the grave situation in Kerala due to floods, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has call off his proposed trip to the US for medical treatment, an official said on Saturday. Vijayan was scheduled to leave for Mayo Clinic in the USA on Sunday.

240 fire service personnel departed from Odisha's Bhubaneswar for Kerala today for relief and rescue operations.

240 fire service personnel departed from Odisha's Bhubaneswar for Kerala today for relief and rescue operations. pic.twitter.com/zLq51jKiBd

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018

Palakkad: Roads damaged due to landslides and floods caused by heavy and incessant rainfall in the region. 

Palakkad: Roads damaged due to landslides and floods caused by heavy and incessant rainfall in the region. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/gE2RZVN7ul

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018

The Maharashtra government announced today an immediate financial assistance of Rs 20 crore for the flood-ravaged Kerala. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, through a post on Twitter, said his government is releasing Rs 20 crore as an immediate assistance for Kerala's flood-affected people.

CM @Dev_Fadnavis announces ₹20 crore as immediate assistance from Maharashtra Government for Kerala flood affected persons.
State Government is constantly in touch with Kerala Government for their requirements and the necessary support, since yesterday.#KeralaFloods

— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) August 18, 2018

MCHI-CREDAI is contributing with food packets of ₹1.5 crore, Rajasthani Welfare Association & JITO International contributing ₹51 lakh each.
Around 11 ton of dry food is being arranged so far out of of which 6 ton would be sent by evening. #KeralaFloodRelief

— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) August 18, 2018

 UN chief Antonio Guterres has expressed sadness over the flooding and extensive damage and displacement caused in rain-battered Kerala. "Our humanitarian colleagues as well as the country team in India have been following the recent floods very closely. The United Nations is of course saddened by the loss of life, destruction and displacement caused by floods in India," said Stephane Dujarric, the UN Secretary-Generals spokesperson.

Punjab: 1 lakh packets of food products consisting water bottles, skimmed milk, biscuits and sugar being sent to Halwara airport in Ludhiana. CM Capt Amarinder Singh had announced Rs 10 crores worth of immediate relief for Kerala Floods Rs 5 crore in form of ready-to-eat food material.

Punjab: 1 lakh packets of food products consisting water bottles, skimmed milk, biscuits & sugar being sent for flood-affected Kerala; #visuals from Ludhiana pic.twitter.com/QUGXHN6kXr

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018

All BJP corporaters of Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) to donate their one month salary towards Kerala Flood relief.

All BJP corporaters of Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) to donate their one month salary towards #KeralaFlood relief. pic.twitter.com/VIW73OafwO

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018

"All our MPs, MLAs and MLC to donate their one month salary for flood relief in Kerala. A special relief committee will be made to send essential items to Kerala," says Randeep Surjewala, Congress. 

Several states have announced assistance for flood-hit Kerala. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan has released Rs 10 crores, while UP CM Yogi Adityanath announced Rs 15 crores from Chief Minister Relief Fund for flood-hit Kerala.

As flood-situation in the state worsens, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare Kerala flood a National Disaster without any delay. Taking to Twitter, he said "Dear PM, Please declare #Kerala floods a National Disaster without any delay. The lives, livelihood and future of millions of our people is at stake."

Dear PM,

Please declare #Kerala floods a National Disaster without any delay. The lives, livelihood and future of millions of our people is at stake.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 18, 2018

In the wake of heavy showers, a red alert has been issued across 11 districts in flood-hit Kerala for Saturday. Heavy rainfall has been predicted for the day in all districts except Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kasaragod, said a statement issued by the Kerala Chief Minister's Office. As many as 324 people have lost their lives, thousands displaced or stranded as incessant rains pounded Kerala since the past few weeks, causing havoc in 12 districts.