Dozens of people were killed by floods in southern India

trivandrum - The death toll due to the flood in the Indian state of Kerala has risen to at least 73. Some 85,000 people have also forced to leave their homes, the BBC reports.

Persistent monsoon rains have led to severe flooding in the southern state. The authorities have closed the busy international airport of Cochin because of the flooding.

In other places in the state, traffic is also hindered by the flood. The newspaper Hindustan Times reports that bridges have been washed away. Trains are not allowed to drive faster than 30 kilometers per hour as a precaution. The national authorities have pledged support.