The death toll from the Kerala floods has risen to at leat 324, as all three services — Navy, Air Force and Army have been deployed in Kerala for the rescue operations along with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
A red alert has been issued in 12 out of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala — the highest flood warning.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi appeals to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the Kerala floods a national disaster.
More than 220,000 have been displaced by the worst floods in 100 years.
The Indian Prime Minister Modi has promised the flood-ravaged state of Kerala more helicopters, boats and other equipments needed to evacuate tens of thousands.
Help is coming in from other states with Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha and Delhi chief ministers announcing immediate assistance to Kerala residents.
The chief minister of the southwestern state has estimated that two million people have been forced to move into relief camps since the monsoon season brought torrential rains three months ago.
An official involved in the relief operations told Reuters on Saturday that 185 people had died since August 8, when the waters began to rise, causing Kerala’s worst floods in a century.
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan told journalists: “More helicopters, boats and other equipment are being sought and the Modi promised to provide all of these as fast as possible.
“The air marshal in charge of the air operations said more helicopters are on the way.”
Authorities have warned of more torrential rain and strong winds over the weekend.
The weather office warned of more heavy “red” category rains on Saturday as tens of thousands of people were still stuck on the rooftops of houses and community centres.
People have been left without food, water and electricity and without help as their phone batteries were dying.
Ago Varghese said in a viral Facebook post: “My family and neighbouring families are in trouble with flood in Pandanad nakkada area in Alappuzha.
“No water and food. Not able to communicate from afternoon. Mobile phones are not reachable and switch off. Please help…No rescuers available.”
The chief minister said initial estimates suggest the state may have lost 195 billion rupees (£2.2 million) as a result of the floods.
Dozens of dams in the state have reached danger levels and 34 dam and reservoir gates have been opened to ease the crisis.
Meteorologists have said Kerala had received an average o 37.5 percent more rainfall than usual.
The hardest-hit districts include Idukki in the north received 83.5 percent excess rain.
The monsoon rains are likely to ease from Sunday, an official with the state-run India Meteorological Department said.
