Commercial flight operations from the naval airport at Kochi commenced today with the first Air India flight from Bengaluru arriving this morning.

Small aircraft are being operated from the naval airport as the Kochi International Airport has shut operations till August 26 following flooding in the heavy rains. The first AI flight from Bengaluru arrived this morning and returned by 0830 hrs.

Train services between the state capital and Ernakulam are also gradually returning to normal. Skeletal services run on the Ernakulam-Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha-Kottayam routes saw trains packed with flood-affected people moving to the houses of their friends and relatives.

The deadly monsoon rains have claimed 210 lives since August 8 and has displaced over 7.14 lakh people from their homes. In the worst affected Chengannur in Alappuzha district, efforts are on to rescue some of those stranded in certain pockets, including Pandanad.

According to the India Met Department, a fresh low pressure area had formed over the North West Bay of Bengal yesterday. However, it would not have a significant impact over Kerala, where rainfall is likely to decrease further during the next five days.

Rehabilitation will be the next big focus of the state government with most of the marooned having been rescued, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Rainfall over Kerala during the South West Monsoon (June 1 to Aug 19) has been exceptionally high. Kerala has so far received 2,346.6 mm of rain against the normal of 1,649.5 mm, according to IMD.

The high-range Idukki district recorded the highest excess rainfall (92 per cent above normal), followed by Palakkad (72 per cent above normal). These two districts have reported several deaths and massive destruction due to flooding and landslides.

Thirteen people lost their lives yesterday, while 7,24,649 lakh people were housed in 5,645 relief camps across the state. Rescue operations are in the final stages.

Around 22,000 people were rescued yesterday alone in the operations launched by the defence personnel, national and state disaster response forces, fishermen and local people. The next big challenge for the government is containing the spread of epidemic.

The Chief Minister said six health officers would be deployed in each panchayat, to ensure there was no outbreak of any communicable diseases as the flood water recedes.

People have started returning to their homes from relief centres with flood waters receding. Many were shocked to see the state of their homes, covered with mud and slush as the water receded.

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