With nearly 100 people having lost their lives since August 8 as Kerala reels under one of the worst floods in its history, Kerala continued to be cut off from most of the country with Highways , Rail and Air links disrupted. On Thursday, torrential rain and floods claimed 30 lives, swamping homes, destroying roads, and disrupting air and rail traffic in many places, officials said. Till now overall, 97 people have died in rain-related incidents since the second spell of monsoon fury got unleashed on August 8.

Indian navy displaying valour began airlifting marooned people in Trichur, Aluva and Muvattupuzha as the weather improved to facilitate operations. Dramatic videos showed people stranded atop flooded homes and hills being winched up by Navy choppers.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan made a desperate call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi again, seeking more aid considering the situation. He also sought additional Army personnel and helicopters. For the first time in history, the state has opened 35 of its 39 dams. Meanwhile, operations at the Cochin International Airport have been suspended till August 26 due to flooding in and around the airport. Air services from the airport continue to be cut even as skelatal operations continued from Calicut and Thiruvananthapuram

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), the country’s apex body for handling emergency situations, met in New Delhi to take stock of the rapidly deteriorating situation caused by the worst floods the state has witnessed in close to a century.

The meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha was attended by chiefs of the three services, secretaries of home, defence and other top officials.

Taking note of the gravity of the situation, the Supreme Court ordered the disaster management panel of the Mullaperiyar Dam to urgently decide on lowering the water level by three feet to 139 feet.