The worst floods in nearly a century have killed hundreds in the Indian tourist state of Kerala. Rising water has stranded tens of thousands of people and forced the closure of one of the state’s main airports.
Rainfall across India
Kerala has seen persistent rain over the space of a week, with the heaviest downpours on August 15.
Several districts in Southern India have reported landslides. Nearly 1 million people are now in relief camps.
Kerala is one of the wettest states in India, receiving large amounts of rainfall on average.
Opening the flood gates
Authorities in Kerala were forced to release water from 35 dangerously full dams, sending a surge into its main river. Reservoirs in the southern state have been filling up over the current monsoon season and the five largest in the state have been at or near capacity for a number of weeks.
As reservoirs reach their capacity, excess water is released. These spills have increased dramatically as heavy rain persisted since early August.
Shutters of a large reservoir in northern Idukki district, about 240 km from state capital Thiruvananthapuram, were opened for the first time in 26 years. The maximum storage level of the reservoir, which is one of the largest arch dams in Asia, is 2,403 feet.
Thousands stranded
Tens of thousands of people, including tourists visiting Kerala for the annual Onam festival, were stranded in parts of the state as the provincial government sought more helicopters and central forces for rescue operations.
“Floating devices, lifeboats and life jackets will be air dropped to stranded groups of 50 or more people,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s office said in a tweet on August 16, appealing to people to stand in open areas or on top of houses and other buildings to ensure quick airlifting.
Pleas for help
An initiative by the government of Kerala, Kerala State IT Mission and IEEE Kerala was launched to allow the public to submit requests for help online, connecting authorities, volunteers and the public. Almost 5,500 rescue requests were submitted between Thursday at 9.30am and Friday at 9.45am local time.
The portal also allows help requests to be submitted on behalf of others. The data shows many pleas for assistance to loved ones coming in from as far away as Japan, Africa, and the U.S.
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