Pictures: Heavy rains create havoc in south Indian state of Kerala

Army and NDRF personnel clear debris caused by a landslide during search and rescue operations at a flood-affected area, at Koottickal, in Kottayam on Sunday. At least 19 people have died a day after torrential rains swept through villages and flooded roads in the southern Indian state of Kerala.

Officials said rescuers recovered the bodies in two of the worst-hit districts, Kottayam and Idukki, where the heavy downpours triggered massive landslides, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency. Above, people from flood-affected areas being shifted to safer places in Chengannur Peralassery in Alappuzha district.

The National Disaster Response Force and the Indian Army deployed teams to help with rescue efforts as several are still feared to be missing. On Saturday, when the heavy rains began, television reports showed people wading through chest-deep waters to rescue passengers from a bus that was nearly submerged by the torrents flooding the roads.

Indian Navy officials looking from their helicopter on a mission to distribute relief material to flood affected people at Koottickal in Kottayam district, southern Kerala state, India, Sunday, Oct.17, 2021. Rescue operations were underway on Sunday after heavy rains lashed the state the day before, triggering flash floods and landslides across districts.

The state chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, urged residents on Sunday to exercise extreme caution even though the intense rainfall has since subsided. Over a 100 relief camps have been set up, he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he spoke to the chief minister and added that authorities were working to rescue those affected. ``I pray for everyone's safety and well-being,'' he said in a tweet. In 2018, Kerala suffered catastrophic floods when heavy downpours amid the monsoon season killed 223 people and drove hundreds of thousands from their homes.

A resident carries a dog amid debris of his damaged house after flash floods caused by heavy rains at Thodupuzha in Kerala.

A car stuck in mud waters after flash floods caused by heavy rains at Thodupuzha in Kerala.

Members of fire and rescue team carry the body of a flash flood victim after heavy rains at Thodupuzha in Kerala on October 16, 2021.

Flood water gushes through low-lying areas triggered by heavy incessant rains at Ranni, Pathanamthitta, on Saturday.

Flood water gushes through low-lying areas triggered by heavy incessant rains at Ranni, in Pathanamthitta on Saturday.

Southern Naval Command prepares to assist local administration in the rescue operations amid heavy rainfall in Kochi on Saturday.

Heavy rain hit the south Indian state of Kerala on Saturday, with five districts put on red alert.

In seven districts of Kerala, the weather office has sounded an 'orange alert', which signifies heavy to very heavy rain. Two districts have been put on yellow alert.

Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur are the Kerala districts that have been put on red alert.

Kerala Chief Minister's office has sent out a cautionary note, urging people to be extremely careful and avoid venturing out for travels into the mountains or near rivers.

Waterlogging, people stuck in their houses or vehicles as water swells are some of the video clips circulating on social media.

Heavy rains have been lashing the state starting Friday evening leaving roads at several places flooded and normal traffic affected at quite a number of places.

The Indian Meteorological Department has warned of more rains on Sunday also.

In areas where there are heavy rains, tourist centres have been asked to close down until further notice and boating services have also been suspended.

In Pathanamthitta district, a car was swept away by the rushing waters but an alert auto-rickshaw driver, sensing the danger, threw stones at the car which broke the windshield allowing the driver to come out through it who swam to safety.