Death toll from Indian floods reaches 100

NEW DELHI, India

The Indian government on Thursday intensified rescue operations in the southern Indian state of Kerala as the death toll from devastating floods and landslides triggered by torrential monsoon rains reportedly stood at over 100.

State Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office (CMO) said on Twitter that inflatable boats and life jackets will be airdropped for more than 50 people who have been stranded.

"Twenty-three more helicopters will join rescue operations tomorrow. 200 more boats will also be part of it. Those who are stranded will be relocated to safer zones from tomorrow morning."

As of Thursday afternoon, the Indian government said teams have rescued 2,182 people, and 968 stranded people have been evacuated.

It also said that around 150,000 people have been moved to over 1,050 relief camps operating in the area.

On Thursday morning, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he had asked the country's defense ministry to further step up rescue and relief operations across the state.

Modi is also expected to visit Kerala on Friday.

Sanjay Kumar, the director general of the National Disaster Response Force, told a news agency that 12 more teams will be sent to Kerala on Thursday. He said that more teams would be sent to the state, if need be.

Officials from Kerala’s State Disaster Management Authority told Anadolu Agency that additional teams from Indian navy, air force and army have arrived in the state.

A defense ministry representative said in a statement on Thursday afternoon that more than 3,000 people have been rescued by the Armed Forces in 12 districts of Kerala.

The Indian Railways has suspended its services, due to floods, the newspaper reported.

The state has already announced temporary closure of its Kochi International Airport till Aug. 26 after floodwater inundated parts of the airport.

Turkish Foreign Ministry on Wednesday offered condolences to the families of those killed in floods in southern India.

"We learned with sorrow that monsoon-related floods in India caused the loss of many lives and injuries," the ministry said in a statement.