Rain fury in Kerala: Photos of rescue operations

Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Kerala Fire and Rescue personnel during rescue operations at the site of a landslide at Kavali on Sunday. (PTI photo)

Army personnel conduct search and rescue operations for missing people trapped under debis at Kavali in Kottayam district. (Photo: ANI)

Medium-lift helicopters inducted for flood relief efforts in rain-affected districts. (Photo: ANI)

According to weather experts, the short but intense rainfall that created havoc in several parts of Kerala are associated with mini-cloud burst events (Photo: ANI)

A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescues locals at Muvattupuzha in rain-hit Ernakulam district. (Photo: ANI)

Army personnel in search of missing people under debris in Kottayam. (Photo: ANI)

NDRF team conducts rescue operation in Kokkayar, Idukki where landslide occurred yesterday (Photo: ANI)

Fire and rescue service personnel carry the body of a flood victim in Thodupuzha on Saturday (Photo: ANI)

Rescue workers shift an elderly woman after flood waters entered her house at Kavil Padam near Kodakara on Saturday (TOI Photo)

Heavy rains pounded south and central Kerala on Saturday wrecking havoc in the state.

The IMD has issued a red alert for Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta.

The chief minister's office has said that help from the Air Force has been sought for rescue in the hilly areas bordering Kottayam and Idukki districts where landslides have been reported.

A defence spokesperson said that diving and rescue teams are ready to be deployed at short notice.