Death toll rises to 83 in flood-hit Kerala

According to the official sources, 2 people died each in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Kasaragod districts, 5 each in Thrissur and Idukki districts, 27 in Malappuram, 17 in Kozhikode 12 in Wayanad, 9 in Kannur districts since August 8 due to torrential downpour and landslides.

As many as 58 people -- 50 from Malappuram and 7 from Wayanad and 1 from Kottayam -- are still missing, it added.

Sources said 838 houses were fully damaged and 8,718 houses have been partially damaged in the floods.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who convened a high level meeting here to assess the flood situation said that he would visit the flood hit areas in Malappuram and Wayanad on Tuesday.

He also urged the concerned District Collectors to ensure all the facilities at the relief camps all over the State.

The State-owned KSRTC restored many bus services and the Railway also took several measures to restore train services as traffic was disrupted due to floods and landslides in many places.

According to sources, holiday has been declared for all the schools, colleges and professional colleges in 9 districts, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Kannur, Alappuzha, Wayanad, Ernakulam and Malappuram on Tuesday.

Orange alert has been issued in Alappuzha and Ernakulam districts on August 12 and Yellow alert was issued in Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur districts on August 13.

Meanwhile, Kerala DGP Loknath Behra said 19 cases were registered against those who circulated fake news through social media against flood situation in the State till this day.

A detailed probe is being initiated by the Cyber Cell, the Cyberdom and the High-tech Cell in this regard, he added.

Meanwhile, 13 tonnes of flood relief materials has been sent to the relief camps in most devastated northern districts on Monday. Another, 6.5 tones of relief materials has been already delivered at various camps earlier, sources added.