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01-08-2024
NEW DELHI/ WAYANAD: At least 123 people have been killed and dozens are still feared trapped after heavy rains triggered massive landslides in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
The landslides struck hilly areas in Wayanad district in the early hours of Tuesday when most residents were asleep.
Rescue operations are under way, but are being hindered by heavy rain and the collapse of a crucial bridge.
Authorities fear the number of casualties will rise further as about 100 people remain trapped in areas the emergency services cannot yet reach.
The landslides are the worst disaster to hit Kerala since 2018, when floods killed more than 400 people.
Officials say more than 200 army personnel have been deployed to assist security forces in search and rescue efforts.
Chief Minister Pinari Vijayan told a press conference that Tuesday’s “landslide has wiped out an entire area”.
Local hospitals are treating at least 123 injured, and more than 3,000 people have been rescued and moved to 45 relief camps, he said.
Apart from 65 confirmed deaths in Wayanad, 16 bodies have been found in the Chaliyar River, which flows into neighboring Malappuram district. The body parts of a number other people have also been found.
Wayanad, a hilly district which is part of the Western Ghats mountain range, is prone to landslides during the monsoon season.
The landslides have hit several areas in the district, including Mundakkai, Attamala, Chooralmala and Kunhome.
Videos on social media showed muddy water gushing through unpaved streets and forested areas, washing away homes and leaving people and vehicles stranded.
A bridge connecting Chooralmala to Mundakkai and Attamala has collapsed, isolating the two places and making it difficult for rescue personnel to reach trapped families.
Rashid Padikkalparamban, a resident, told media that at least three landslides had hit the area around midnight, washing away the bridge.
State and national disaster relief teams are conducting rescue operations, with the help of local people.
Venu said a small team had managed to cross the river and reach the areas that were cut off. He added that more resources were required, but strong river currents were making it difficult for rescue personnel to cross the river.
Air-relief operations also had to be postponed due to heavy rains, he said.
Raghavan C Arunamala, a local, described horrifying scenes.
“I saw a man trapped in the debris shouting for help. Firefighters and rescue workers have been trying to reach him for the last few hours,” he said.
Local media reports say that people are flocking to hospitals to search for their loved ones.
Nearly 350 families are believed to have lived in the affected regions, where a number of tea and cardamom estates are located.
Most victims are people who worked on the estates and were likely to have been asleep in their makeshift tents when landslides struck.
Wayanad district and neighboring areas are still on alert due to the forecast of heavy rains. Schools and colleges were closed in 10 of 14 districts.
In 2019, 17 people had died after a landslide hit Puthumala in Wayanad, around 10km from the areas currently affected. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is a former MP from Wayanad, is set to visit the district on Wednesday.
