Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 17: The death toll in flood-hit Kerala has climbed to 324, whereas, over 2 lakh people have been displaced, said the statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office on Friday.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said a total of 2,23,139 people are staying in over 1,500 relief camps put up by the state. In an appeal issued on Twitter, Vijayan has appealed the people of Kerala and other parts of the nation, along with the Indian diaspora abroad, to generously donate to the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF).

The crisis, Vijayan said, is the worst to have struck Kerala in the past 100 years. The last major floods, of this intensity, ravaged the state in 1924, when more than 1,000 people were killed.

10 columns of the Indian Army, along with multiple teams of the Navy and NDRF have been deployed to expedite the relief and rescue operations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to arrive in Kerala later in the day and hold a meeting with CM Vijayan to discuss the issue. Modi will also monitor the relief operations on Saturday.

In the past week, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited the flood-wrecked state and announced an immediate aid of Rs 100 crore from the Centre. The Kerala government, however, has petitioned for more, seeking upto Rs 500-1000 crore at the earliest.

As part of the rehabilitation and rescue program, the state government aims to distribute Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of deceased. Those whose houses have been washed off in the floods will be provided a compensation of Rs 10 lakh. An immediate aid of Rs 3,800 per person will be provided to those lodged in the relief camps.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 17, 2018 06:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).