Kerala floods live updates: Over 10 lakh in relief camps; Centre declares disaster 'calamity of severe nature'

According to geologist K R Jagadeesan, who inspected the areas, the cracks appeared due to heavy rain and the slopes of the locality. He said he would give a report to the District Collector, recommending further study by the Centre for Earth Science Studies.

Majority of the inmates in various relief camps in Chengannur said it was their second life and they had seen death very close in the form of flood waters.

The huge drop in the figure bought cheers to the state as it is a clear indication that the worst crisis it had faced ever has been over.

In 3270 camps, 10.28 lakh people are staying of which 1 lakh are kids below 12 years of age, said chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Fishermen who were involved in the rescue operations will be felicitated by the state government on August 29 at Thiruvananthapuram.

MPs of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been asked to contribute to Kerala relief works.

Reserve Bank of India has agreed to exchange all the currency notes that have been damaged in the flood-hit areas, said Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Two consignments of 9 tonnes of ready-to-eat food have arrived at the Kochi-headquartered DRDO laboratory, Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) and is being distributed to various places.

'THANKS', read the simple message in huge font in white paint on the terrace of a home, encapsulating sentiments of grateful Keralites rescued by defence personnel after raging floods left them marooned.

The Tamil Nadu government has launched a website called 'Anbudan Tamizhagam' to facilitate collection, transportation and distribution of supplies and funds to Kerala by engaging with the civil society in the state.

On Monday, 2059 persons who were staying in camps returned to home and 28 camps were closed. A total of 30684 persons of 8190 families are staying in remaining 127 camps. Among the total number of inmates 12082 are women and 6665 are children.

Commercial flight operations from the naval airport at Kochi commenced on Monday with the first Air India flight from Bengaluru arriving in the morning. Small aircrafts are being operated from the naval airport as the Kochi International Airport has

The massive flood in Kerala has been declared a calamity of severe nature, the Union home ministry said on Monday. "Keeping in view the intensity and magnitude of the floods and landslides in Kerala, this is a calamity of a severe nature for all practical purposes," a home ministry official said.

KSEB will set up temporary public mobile charging points in all section offices and relief camps for flood relief victims.

A train journey from Ernakulam to Thiruvananthapuram, which usually presents a picture of greenery all along, gave a peep into the tragedy that befell the residents, especially in worst hit Chengannur in Alapuzha district, and other areas.