Thiruvananthapuram, August 19: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has rescinded the red alert issued in 11 of the 14 districts in Kerala and has now predicted only moderate rainfall in the state  over the next five days. The rainfall is expected to decrease further. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra of the IMD said, “It is expected that for the next five days there won't be heavy rainfall in Kerala, rainfall will gradually decrease over the state.”

Meanwhile, the death toll has risen to 370 in the floods that hit Kerala due to heavy and incessant rains that lashed the state. Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an aerial along with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the regions affected by floods. PM Modi also issued a financial aid of Rs 500 to the state. Various states have also announced financial assistance to Kerala. The Indian Defence Forces along with National Disaster Response Team (NDRF) have launched Operation Madad to rescue people to safe places.

A United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based businessman has announced a 2.6 million dirhams ($707,837) donation towards relief operations in the flood-hit Indian state of Kerala. According to K.P. Hussain, chairman of Fathima Healthcare Group, about half of the amount will directly go to the Kerala Chief Minister's Relief Fund, while the rest will be allocated for medical relief aid, reports Khaleej Times. Other UAE businessmen had also earlier pledged a donation to help in flood relief operations.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 19, 2018 05:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).