Kerala Flood: Death Toll Hits 324

Kerala’s most savage monsoon in a century has killed at least 324 people over the last nine days, says Pinarayi Vijayan, the Indian city’s Chief Minister.

He made this known while issuing a fresh rain alert for the battered state, located in South India on the Malabar Coast, adding that many people have been displaced.

The state, battling floods and landslides, plunged deeper into crisis on Friday, with hospitals facing shortage of oxygen and fuel stations running dry.

Rescue efforts have been progressing on a war footing and Mr Vijayan said he had spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is expected to visit Kerala Friday evening.