Bengaluru, Aug 10: Karnataka is rushing Rs 10 crore worth relief materials to the neighbouring flood-hit Kerala following heavy monsoon rains, said an official statement on Thursday.

"Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy directed state Chief Secretary T.M. Vijaya Bhaskar to rush relief materials and a team of doctors to Kerala, reeling under heavy rains and flash floods," said the statement.

On Kerala's request, the state government has also agreed to release 75,000 cusecs of water from Kabini reservoir in Mysuru districts to tackle the flash floods caused by excessive backwaters across the border in Kerala.

As one of the tributaries, Kabini originates in the Wayanad district and flows eastward to join the Cauvery river at T. Narasipura in Karnataka.

"Kumaraswamy also called on his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the flood situation in that state. He also offered more relief material and aid to the affected people across the state," added the statement.

Toll in the rain-related incidents rose to 24, with large-scale damage reported from various parts of the southern state.

Idukki, Malappuram, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad and parts of Kannur are the worst-affected districts in coastal and north-eastern areas of Kerala.

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Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Celebrations erupted across Kerala on Thursday after V D Satheesan was selected by the Congress High Command as the next Chief Minister of the state.

Satheesan was at the Contonment House in Thiruvananthapuram, the official residence of the Leader of the Opposition, when AICC leaders announced it in New Delhi.

Soon after the announcement, jubilant Satheesan supporters burst firecrackers and distributed sweets in several parts of the state.

Paravur in Ernakulam district, the Assembly constituency he has represented since 2001, witnessed large-scale celebrations.

Satheesan was widely seen as the frontrunner for the post, with UDF allies also backing his candidature during the selection process.

As the Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing Assembly, he led the UDF both inside and outside the House.

Apart from Satheesan, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala and Congress MP K C Venugopal were also considered for the post.