At least 24 people have died and dozens more are missing after heavy rains led to a series of landslides in the Indian state of Kerala, with rescue operations hampered by the collapse of a main bridge.
Government ministers confirmed that the bodies of 24 people had been uncovered so far, with over 70 injured, after massive landslides engulfed the hilly areas of Wayanad in southern India, crushing hundreds of homes in the mud.
Kerala health minister Veena George said: “It’s very unfortunate that early this morning around 3 am, massive landslides occurred in Wayanad. Rescue operations are going on. We are exploring everything possible to rescue the lives of our people. So far, we have received 24 bodies in different hospitals.”
A one-year-old child was among the dead according to local authorities. Many were still missing and feared to have been washed away in the muddy, fast flowing water that gushed through the area.
The landslides took place in the early hours of the morning, when people were asleep in their homes which were crushed by mud and uprooted trees.
Access to the affected site remained difficult for rescuers amid heavy monsoon rain and destroyed roads. The army was asked to build a temporary crossing after a bridge in the district that linked the affected forest area to the nearest town of Chooralmala was destroyed, forest minister A K Saseendran told reporters.
“The situation is serious. The government has pressed all agencies into rescue,” he added.
Rashid Padikkalparamban, a resident involved in the relief efforts, said there were at least three landslides in the area.
“Many people who were working in the estates and staying in makeshift tents inside are feared trapped or missing,” he said.
The army and the air force was mobilised to help with the rescue efforts but local village leaders said that no one had been able to be evacuated due to the difficult weather conditions and treacherous terrain up to the affected area.
Prime minister Narendra Modi was reported to be monitoring the disaster and pledged a full rescue effort to find those still trapped in the debris.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, the former MP for Wayanad, said he was “deeply anguished” by the massive landslides. “My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones. I hope those still trapped are brought to safety soon,” said Gandhi in a post on X.
The south Indian state of Kerala has increasingly been hit by flooding and landslides caused by irregular and intense rainfall during the monsoon seasons.
In August 2018, almost 500 people died after severe flooding across the state due to unusually heavy rainfall, the worst floods to hit in a century.