The floods in the southern Indian state of Kerala are believed to have been the worst in a century. The loss of lives has gone beyond 370 ever since the beginning of the monsoon season in May. The Guardian says that most of the deaths have occurred in the past 11 days, and thousands of people remain displaced from their homes and over one million have been accommodated in relief camps. There is an acute shortage of basic necessities like medicine, fuel and fresh water.

Water levels are receding and rains are also stopping but, rescue efforts continue and survivors are being moved out from marooned areas.

The Met Department has predicted that rains will cease within a few days which will provide the military an opportunity to intensify efforts to rescue those who are stranded and air-drop supplies of food and water.

Floods in Kerala are a nightmare

Kerala experienced nearly 250 percent excess rain in this season and the authorities had to open the floodgates of dangerously full dams. This release of water led to floods downstream and surrounding areas went under water. Houses were destroyed which forced residents to flee to safety on rooftops.

The armed forces began disaster relief work, rescued thousands of people by helicopters and attended to their medical needs.

Floods always disturb normal lives and Hurricane Harvey had played havoc in Houston. The extent of damages in Kerala have yet to be established but there is extensive damage to the infrastructure and crops have also suffered.

People have lost their personal belongings and more than 4,000 relief camps are trying to mitigate the sufferings of people across the state. Disaster management officials are trying to concentrate on checking the spread of water-borne diseases.

An outbreak of diseases looms large after floods

Any flood is usually followed by various types of disease.

The BBC says that the disaster management team is preparing to deal with such possibilities in the temporary relief camps. Those who had put up at evacuation centers have narrated living without food or water. Already, there are reports of three people detected with chickenpox in a camp located about 155 miles from state capital Thiruvananthapuram. Helicopters have been deployed to ferry critical supplies to those who were isolated by the nonstop rains.

Kerala's chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has promised on Sunday "to save even the last person stranded". India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conducted an aerial survey and has announced an immediate grant of approximately $71 million. Right now, it is difficult to assess the extent of damage from the floods that have crippled Kerala, fondly called ‘God’s own Country.’ The state used to be a major tourist hub and will now have to reinvent itself.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED