The hilly district of Idukki has been thrown back by 40 years following Kerala's worst flooding in a century, Power Minister M.M. Mani said on Sunday.

Former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that the tragedy caused due to heavy rains and floods in the state was due to the present state government's glaring omission of not being able to foresee things.

Keeping in view the unprecedented floods in Kerala, the Supreme Court on Friday agreed with the Disaster Management sub-committee that the water level at Mullaperiyar dam be maintained at 139.99 feet till August 31.

As the rain fury finally abated on Sunday, 724,649 people remained in 5,645 camps in Kerala following "one of the worst ever floods" that has left about 370 dead and caused unprecedented destruction.

The death toll due to the devastating rains and floods in Kerala increased to 370, as two more deaths were reported on Sunday with rescue operations continuing in the worst affected districts of Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur.

The death toll in rain-battered Kerala touched 174 on Friday as a red alert continued in 12 districts, with various agencies continuing the rescue operations after rains subsided to evacuate over 80,000 persons during the day.

The death toll in rain-battered Kerala touched 174 on Friday as a red alert continued in 12 districts, with the authorities continuing rescue operations after rains subsided and evacuated more survivors to relief camps.

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 17 (IANS/Mongabay) Kerala has been facing unusually high rainfall since early August, which has led to statewide floods taking several lives and causing severe damage. According to the government, there hasnt been a flood of this scale in last 90 years. The death toll as of August 16, stands at 114.

An incessant downpour battered Kerala again on Wednesday, resulting in 28 more deaths and more destruction and forcing authorities to issue a red alert across the southern state.

Following timely intervention by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday, the mounting tension between Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the rising water level in Mullaperiyar Dam and its outflow has been resolved, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.