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MONSOON FLOODING: Extra flights requested in flood-ravaged Kerala

At least 350 people have lost their lives and more than 800,000 have been displaced after torrential rains led to mass flooding in the popular tourist state of Kerala in India's south.

At least 350 people have lost their lives and more than 800,000 have been displaced after torrential rains led to mass flooding in the popular tourist state of Kerala in India’s south.

Heavy rains over the past week have caused widespread flooding, landslides and home and bridge collapses.

Air and train services in the state have been seriously affected by rising water levels have closing Cochin airport leaving just Thiruvananthapuram and Calicut airports able to handle commercial flights.

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Image: Getty Images

The situation has led to India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation requesting airlines to operate extra flights to and from Kerala and to cap fares.

“Scheduled domestic airlines have also been advised to ensure that airfares for flights to or from Trivandrum and Calicut airports in Kerala and nearby airports i.e. Mangalore and Coimbatore are kept at an optimal level proportionate to sector distance so that travelling public is not inconvenienced.”

Directorate General of Civil Aviation

Kerala, Southern India

Kerala, Southern India

A statement from the authority said a spike in airfares on a few routes had been observed but the airlines involved have since been advised to cap the airfare on these flights.

“We have advised airlines to be more sensitive to the situation arising out of #KeralaFlooding and keep airfares in check. It”s a humanitarian cause,” minister of commerce and industry and civil aviation Suresh Prabhu tweeted.

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Image: Getty Images

Smarttraveller continues to warn Aussies to exercise a high degree of caution in India and to follow the advice of local authorities in Kerala during the natural disaster.

Are any of your clients in Kerala right now? Let us know below.