Devastation in Kerala in pictures

Rains, overflowing rivers and a series of landslides have claimed over 70 people and destroyed several properties in Kerala. The state is in complete shutdown. Railway and Metro operations have been suspended. The devastation in pictures:

Food packets and drinking water are being rushed to Kerala for distribution among the people in 14 worst affected districts, while additional NDRF teams are also being sent to the state to assist the local administration in operations.

National Disaster Response Force has so far evacuated 926 persons to safer place at Pathamithitta, Kozzhikode, Ernakulam, Thrissur & Alappuzha. The public transport system has collapsed in many parts of central Kerala with the Southern Railways and Kochi Metro today suspending their operations due to floods.

The Cochin International Airport has suspended all flight operations till Saturday. Authorities have diverted all incoming and outgoing flights to Thiruvananthapuram or Kozhikode.

This image was sent to us by a reader of the damage rainfall has done to the state. The loss suffered by tea, coffee, cardamom and rubber planters due to the rains has been pegged at Rs 600 crore. The estimated loss of tea plantations alone was between Rs 150 crore to Rs 200 crore. Approximately 100 acre has been lost in landslides and flooding of tea fields in Waynad.