With heavy rains continuing in Idukki, authorities in Kerala were forced to open the remaining two more floodgates of the nearly overflowing Idamalayar dam on Friday, even as the death toll reached 27 in the state. Rains in the rest of the flood-ravaged state have reduced, a Met official said.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is closely monitoring the situation and has cancelled all his engagements. He is staying put in his office in Thiruvananthapuram, coordinating with the various district authorities and the Kerala State Electricity Board, which controls the dam.