Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said 164 people have died in the state – more than 100 of them in the last 36 hours — and issued a fresh rain alert for the battered state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kerala, which is grappling with the worst monsoon of the century, this evening. The military has pushed in more than 200 boats. Another four aircraft and three Coast Guard ships have also been brought in to rescue people marooned in areas cut off by vast stretches of water. Rescue efforts have been progressing on a war footing and Mr Vijayan’s office said he had spoken to PM Modi again this morning.
