Iran Press/Asia: Authorities in the southern state of India , which is home to 33 million people, have placed local agencies on the highest alert level in what has turned out to be Kerala's worst monsoon in almost a century.
Kerala is battered by the monsoon every year but the rains have been particularly severe since August 8, flooding hundreds of villages and prompting the authorities to suspend flights in and out of the region.
More than 60,000 people have sought shelter in relief camps and the army and navy have been called in to assist with rescue operations, airlifting people to hospital, according to the official.
Unconfirmed local media reports mentioned a much higher toll and cited ongoing efforts to reach many flooded areas.
The authorities were also worried about rising water levels in the massive Mullaperiyar dam, and urged officials in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu to release water from the reservoir.
Hundreds of villages have been flooded, more than 10,000km of roads and thousands of homes have been destroyed or damaged across the state, officials said.
