Chennai, Aug 11: Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan and media broadcaster Vijay Television have announced an aid of Rs 25 lakh to flood-wrecked Kerala.

The amount would be submitted to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund, Kerala. Haasan, who heads the newly floated Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), has appealed his party cadres and people of Tamil Nadu to donate towards easing the plight of flood victims in Kerala.

11 of the 14 districts of the coastal state are still inundated under water, despite the rains subsiding on Saturday. The administration remains on alert as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) today warned of heavy to heavy rainfall till August 15.

The districts which could face extreme weather over the next 72 hours are Idukki, Wayanad and Kannur. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, while speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, said his government faces an uphill task to rebuild the region devastated by the unprecedented floods. "We need support from all quarters," he said.

Columns of the Indian Army have been deployed, along with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), to assist in the relief and rescue operation.

By the time this report was published, the death count had climbed to 37, whereas, over 60,000 people have been shifted to rehabilitation camps.

The Opposition has appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the situation in Kerala, claiming that the state has been affected by a catastrophic calamity. “It is critical to acknowledge looming humanitarian crisis in Kerala. Hope the union government will cooperate with the state in massive relief and rehabilitation efforts," said Congress president Rahul Gandhi in a letter sent to the PM.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 11, 2018 11:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).