The worst floods in a century in the Indian state of Kerala have killed 164 people and forced more than 200,000 into relief camps, with more misery expected as heavy rain pushes water levels higher.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to visit the southwest state on Friday and its chief minister says he hopes the military can step up help for the rescue effort, which is already using dozens of helicopters and hundreds of boats.
The floods began on August 8 and Vijayan said 164 people had been killed - some in landslides - with about 223,000 people forced into 1568 relief camps.
With torrential rains stopping on Friday, thousands of rescuers worked quickly to shift hundreds of people marooned on rooftops.
A Reuters witness on board a relief helicopter in Chengannur town in the south of the state said people on roofs were seen waving desperately at navy aircraft.
Anil Vasudevan, the head of the Kerala health disaster response wing, said a big worry was what happened after the floods fell.
People going home would be susceptible to water-borne diseases, he said.
Kerala is a major destination for domestic and foreign tourists.
It has been hit with 37 per cent more rainfall than normal since the beginning of this monsoon, the Meteorological Department says.
Some plantations have also been inundated. The state is a major producer of rubber, tea, coffee and spices such as black pepper and cardamom.
Australian Associated Press