NEW DELHI – The death toll from major floods in India’s tourist hotspotKerala has jumped to 164, state chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan saidFriday, issuing a fresh heavy rainfall warning for the battered region.

Kerala’s government has described the crisis — one of the worst in decades— as “extremely grave” and rescue operations are underway to help thousandswho remain trapped by floodwaters.

“The chief minister has confirmed 164 deaths. Around 100 people died in thelast 36 hours alone,” an official in the Kerala government’s publicrelations department told AFP.

Local reports indicated an even higher toll with thousands still waitingfor relief and rescue across the flood-ravaged state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that he had discussed the floodsituation with Vijayan as more troops and rescue workers were deployedacross Kerala.

“Later this evening, I will be heading to Kerala to take stock of theunfortunate situation,” Modi said on Twitter.