“Please give us a helicopter. I am begging you. Please help me, people in my place will die. Please help us”, Saji Cheriyan, a member of Kerala Legislative Assembly pleaded while talking to local TV channels.
He said that more than 50,000 people were trapped in Chengannur locality, which is one of the worst-hit areas in the state.
The state has been reeling under unprecedented floods for weeks now, which claimed the lives of more than 300 people and left more than 300,000 homeless. With landslides and water-filled roads making evacuation hard, tens of thousands are still trapped on the rooftops of homes and other secluded areas. 
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters that “324 people have died since May 29, and 164 among them are in this month”.
Source: AAP
He has also confirmed that around 315,000 are in govt-run refugee camps.
“There is no other solution, people have to be airlifted. …we can't do more. The armed forces need to come here, please help us,” Saji Cheriyan told a television channel. Local media is reporting that people are trapped without food, water or electricity and authorities or relatives are not able to contact many of them.
The Indian military is engaged in rescue operations and has already airlifted thousands from the rooftops of submerged houses.
The army, air force and navy are using helicopters and boats to rescue people from water-filled houses and rooftops. 46 naval units, 18 army units and 13 airforce units are active in the rescue operations. Hundreds of local fishermen are also staging rescue attempts with boats
25-year-old pregnant woman Sajita Jabeel was one of those successfully evacuated from a rooftop by the Indian navy. Soon after she gave birth to a baby boy.
Indian PM Modi visits Kerala
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi flew to Kerala to visit the flood-affected areas and assess what he described as "the unfortunate situation".
The state's opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has requested the prime minister to hand over the full responsibility of the rescue operations to the army. The union government has already announced Rs. 1 billion in aid to Kerala.
Kerala state officials receive prime minister Narendra modi at Trivandrum airport Source: CM/Kerala
Mr Modi will undertake an aerial survey on Saturday morning with reports saying he may announce more relief measures after meeting the state's chief minister.
However, the state is demanding the situation to be declared as a national calamity and more assistance provided by the national government.
Australians concerned
The Malayali Community in Australia has started an online petition seeking the Australian federal government's assistance to flood-hit Kerala. Melbourne resident Hiyas Valiyankode is in Malappuram visiting family. He told SBS Malayalam that they are stuck at home as authorities have warned them not to go outside.
