22 killed in a day as floods continue to batter Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram : The death toll in the Kerala floods climbed to 196 as 22 more deaths were reported on Saturday, even as fresh trouble loomed large for authorities due to prediction of more rains, with 11 districts continuing on a red alert.The India Meteorological Department forecast on Saturday afternoon that widespread rains, with heavy rains at isolated places, is likely to continue over Kerala following low pressure area very likely to develop over northwest Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood during the next 24 hours.Barring Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kasargode, the remaining 11 districts of Kerala continued to be on red alert and can expect more rains.The 22 deaths reported during the day were in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Chengannur districts.The worst affected places include Aluva, Chalakudy, Chengannur, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta, where massive rescue operations were on as scores of persons were rescued by rescue teams. Media houses continued to be flooded with requests from friends and relatives of those stranded in affected areas.