NEW DELHI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- As the southern Indian state of Kerala reels under a massive flooding, several state governments across the country have announced aid as their contribution to the relief fund.
The Indian government has pressed in dozens of boats and helicopters to evacuate people from the flooded areas. Hundreds of Indian troops stepped up efforts to rescue thousands of people stranded in the deluge.
Chief Minister of southern Telangana state K Chandrashekar Rao has announced a relief of over 3.5 million U.S. dollars to aid Kerala.
The chief minister has instructed chief secretary to handover the aid to Kerala government, a government spokesman said.
State governments of Punjab, Bihar, Haryana, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and some other states have also announced assistance.
On Saturday Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi carried out an aerial survey of the flood-hit Kerala and announced a relief of 71.6 million U.S. dollars for the battered state, in addition to 14.3 million U.S. dollars announced earlier.
Authorities said the floods have destroyed over 10,000 km of roads and thousands of residential houses. Disaster management officials said it will take some time to make a proper damage assessment.
The airport in Kochi has been shut at least till Aug. 26 and flight operations have been shifted to state capital Thiruvananthapuram.
Indian Meteorological department officials said until Aug. 16 actual rainfall recorded in the state was 619.5 mm, compared to the normal 244.1 mm.
Officials in Kerala described the flood as the worst in a century.
According to the local government, the flood claimed 324 lives and displaced thousands of people.
"Kerala is facing its worst flood in 100 years. 324 lives lost and 223,139 people are in over 1500 relief camps," a government statement said.
