Sachi Ghatna: Kerala flood breaks 100 years' record, people struggle to survive

Thousands of people stranded in isolated buildings and rooftops in flood-hit Kerala were rescued today, even as rains and fresh landslides were reported in some places as the toll touched 194 in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8. A large number of people, including senior citizens, women and children were airlifted from isolated buildings,
while many others were evacuated in army boats, large fishing vessels and makeshift yachts, official sources said. Packed house boats and rafts moving through inundated roads could be seen in all the flood-hit regions of the state. However,people in worst-hit places like Pathanamthitta and Chengannur said that hundreds were yet to be evacuated. In many places, the local people were in the forefront of the evacuation along with defence and NDRF personnel.
Lack of information about the isolated areas and houses, where a large number of people are believed to be stuck, is a worrying factor for rescuers, official sources
said. Over 54,000 people were rescued in Ernakulam district, mainly in Paravur and Aluva taluks which had witnessed heavy
rains and severe water logging in the past two days.