Kochi, August 15: Kerala continues to reel under floods as fresh rains hit the state on Wednesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alert in all the districts of Kerala. Rescue operations are underway in the worst hit districts of Wayanad, Kochi's Muppathadam, Ernakulam, Idukki and other districts.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a tweet, mentioned that the operations of Kochi International Airport (COK) has been temporarily suspended till 18th August, Saturday, 2 PM due to the heavy rains and floods.

Vijayan, in another tweet, had informed that water will be released from the Mullaperiyar reservoir by 1:30 AM. People in the villages of Manjumala, Kumily, Periyar, Upputhura and Ayyapankovil have been relocated. The CM also said that people living on the banks of Periyar must be cautious.

People living downstream have been told to be cautious as water may be released from Mullaperiyar Dam. Check the tweet below:

"People living close to the banks of Periyar, which flows through Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur districts, should comply with the directions issued by District Collectors of these districts and move to relief camps," tweeted the Chief Minister.

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has cancelled its premium services between Bengaluru & Mangalore. Premium services will not operate in Subramanya, Dharmasthala, Kundapur. Only express service (Karnataka Sarige) buses will be operating via Charmadi to Mangaluru.

Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, also tweeted about Kerala floods urging everyone to do all they can to help the flood hit state. Check the tweet below:

The holy Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala has been rendered temporarily inaccessible to pilgrims following the flooding of the Pampa Triveni bridge. The bridge has been submerged due to water from the opening of two dams due to heavy rainfall in the district.

According to latest update, 17,974 people have been shifted to 117 relief camps in Ernakulam district due to heavy rainfall in Kerala. The floods have so far claimed 47 lives and displaced more than 30,000. Rescue operations are underway, with the Indian Army, NDRF teams, Disaster Relief groups and coastguards involved in large numbers in the rescue operations.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 15, 2018 03:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).