 At least 24 people have been killed in floods in southern India after heavy rains caused rivers to overflow, cutting off towns and villages. Five children are among the dead. Their fears from the death toll could rise further as many people are missing. Several houses were washed away and people became trapped in the district of Kutayam in Kerala state. Landslides and floods claimed dozens of lives in India's southern state of Kerala over the weekend. In heart-hit Kutayam, rescuers raced to clear debris from a bridge with an excavator. A resident described the extent of the damage. There are four landslides happened there yesterday. The hill behind me which has brought all the water and other items to the downwards. The Indian Army and Navy were sent to Kutayam and Iduki districts to aid rescue efforts. Annual rainfall supports two-thirds of India's billion-plus population who live in rural areas and rely on farming. However, excessive rainfall sparks not only floods and landslides but also waterborne diseases. In 2018, Kerala saw some of its worst floods in the century. They killed at least 400 people and displaced 200,000 more.