At least 39 killed in floods ravaging south Indian state
The chaos which follows heavy torrential rains also displaced 54,000 people in the state of Kerala where relief activities aided by the navy, army and air force continue.
Residents look at houses destroyed by flood waters at Kannappankundu in Kozhikode, in the Indian state of Kerala on August 10, 2018.
Floods following heavy torrential rains in India's southern Kerala State have claimed at least 39 lives and displaced 54,000 more. Damage to property is estimated at nearly $1.2 billion.
In Aluva, one of the worst affected areas in the state, the region's landmark Shiva temple remains submerged in floodwater with only its roof above water.
Local people said the temple was fully submerged when the flood reached its peak a few days ago.
TRT World's Gavin Blackburn reports.
Although the floods have receded from many neighbourhoods, people's daily lives in the affected areas are not yet back to normal.
Local resident Seethalakshmi has been running a stall near the temple for over a decade. Now her business has been ruined by the flooding.
TRT World's Neha Poonia brings more from New Delhi.
"At first when police warned us that the recent downpour would bring floods, we did not mind much as the river does not swell much during every year’s monsoon. When the flood came, it was too late to pack up my stall."
The Shiva Temple submerged after the release of water from Idamalayar dam following heavy rains in Kochi on August 9, 2018.
Unexpected flooding
"The water level suddenly exceeded two metres, and we rushed to escape, had no time to mind the stall," she said.
Locals did not expect torrential rains would be so frequent this year.
According to statistics from India's meteorological authorities, this year's monsoon rainfall in Kerala State was quadruple the annual average, with the daily precipitation in many areas exceeding 150 millimetres in August.
A woman inside her house immersed in flood waters in Ernakulam district of Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala on August 10, 2018.
A state with 44 major rivers, Kerala experienced severe flooding during this monsoon season.
Local resident Anjali's family lives by the Periyar River.
The family of 12 fled to safety when water from the local river flooded their neighbourhood.
A man carries a basket of bananas next to houses immersed in floodwaters in Ernakulam district of Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala on August 10, 2018.
"We didn't expect the river to flood so fast and high. We got up early and found water everywhere in the house. It's difficult to live here in such a situation. Children got skin disease because of walking in the water, and the household goods outside were washed away. We had to sleep in neighbour's house on elevated land," she said.
Mani, 80, is grieving after losing her house and much of her life's belongings to the flood.
She said all her belongings inside the house were washed away.
"My home has been totally destroyed. My furniture was ruined, as well as the stored food and clothes. All of them were washed away by floods. The floods gushed into the house so quickly and we escaped in such a hurry that we didn't have time to bring out any other belongings except this cloth," she said.
Mani and her family now live in a makeshift shelter provided by local government.
The state's floods have so far displaced more than 54,000 people, authorities said.
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