800,000 displaced in flooding in southern Indian state

People have been salvaging what they can and making their way to safety all across the state of Kerala. Photo / AP

Around 800,000 people have been displaced and more than 350 have died in the worst flooding in a century in southern India's Kerala state, officials said as rescuers searched for people stranded in the worst-affected areas.

The downpours that started on August 8 have triggered floods and landslides and caused homes and bridges to collapse across Kerala, known for its quiet tropical backwaters and beautiful beaches.

Thousands of rescuers were continuing efforts to reach out to stranded people and get relief supplies to isolated areas by hundreds of boats and nearly two dozen helicopters, said P.H. Kurian, a top disaster management official in Kerala. He said weather conditions had improved considerably and expected the nearly 10,000 people still stranded to be rescued by today.

Flood victims are evacuated to safer areas in Kozhikode, in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Photo / AP

An estimated 800,000 people have taken shelter in around 4000 relief camps across Kerala, Kurian said.

Weather officials predicted more rains across the state yesterday.

In several villages in the suburbs of Chengannur, one of the worst-affected areas, carcasses of dead cattle were seen floating in muddy waters as water began receding. However, vast rice fields continued to be marooned and many vehicles were submerged.

In some villages, floodwaters up to 3m high had entered homes.

Officials have called it the worst flooding in Kerala in a century, with twice the rainfall of a typical monsoon season in some areas.

A house is partially submerged in flood waters in Chengannur in the southern state of Kerala. Photo / AP

Officials estimate that more than 10,000km of roads have been damaged.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised more than US$70 million ($105.7m) in aid.

Officials have put initial storm damage estimates at nearly US$3b.

- AP