Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 12 (IANS): With rains and flood battering Kerala for days, Eid celebrations in the state on Monday was a low-key affair, starting and ending with prayers.

Last year too, Eid was marred in Kerala as the state faced the worst floods in a century. With more than a million people in relief camps, there was no celebration.

This year, incessant rain has forced over 2.80 lakh people to move into 1,654 relief camps set up across the state. Muslims comprise 88.73 lakh of Kerala's 3.34 crore population and a large number of them live in districts like Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargode, areas worst affected by the rain.

Addressing gatherings at mosques across the state, clerics urged them to extend a helping hand to the flood victims.

Wayanad Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has also assured all help to the people of his flood-hit constituency rebuild their lives. "We will use the spirit of Eid to help the people who are suffering," said Gandhi at a relief camp in Wayanad.