Kerala floods claim 15 lives, leave seven missing as relief camps swell

Kerala's monsoon surge has resulted in 15 fatalities and seven people still missing, according to Chief Minister V D Satheesan, who briefed officials after reviewing the situation. The state now runs 316 relief camps that are sheltering 11,018 individuals displaced by floods and landslides. Fatalities were recorded in multiple districts, including Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kollam, Kannur and Kozhikode.

The government will provide Rs 10,000 to each bereaved family and to residents leaving the camps, and has tasked the Agriculture Department with proposing higher crop-damage compensation. Preliminary assessments indicate damage to 165 hectares of agricultural land affecting 3,596 farmers, while the India Meteorological Department has issued orange rain alerts for most districts and warned of continued heavy showers and strong winds.