The death toll in the Kerala deluge is likely to go up as hundreds of people stranded in flooded areas, especially in and around Aluva and Pathanamthitta-Chengannur areas, were unable to get help in the last 24 hours. While multiple sources on the ground reports a slight reduction in the water level in Ranni and Pathanamthitta areas, many two-storey houses were fully submerged in water in and around Aluva, a town hardly 30 kms north of Kochi, on Friday morning.
Besides the boats of central forces, dozens of fishermen boats that could carry more number of people are now being brought to Aluva and Chalakkudi areas where hundreds of houses along the banks of Periyar, especially those structures built on paddy fields and low-lying areas, are fully submerged in water.