PRAY FOR KERALA

It is an extremely grave situation," the Kerala government said last evening. North and central Kerala have been worst-hit by the floods with at least 310,000 people displaced. They are taking shelter in more than 2,000 relief camps.

A new red alert was issued for today in 11 districts of flood-ravaged Kerala as heavy rainfall was predicted in all districts except Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kasaragod, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Saturday. At least 324 people have died and there are growing fears that the number of deaths could escalate rapidly with countless people still marooned, desperate for food and drinking water. Hundreds of thousands of people have been shifted to relief camps. Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised Rs 500 crore in aid along with more helicopters, boats and other equipment for relief and rescue as he was given an aerial tour of the worst-affected areas.