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At least 23 people have died and hundreds more are feared trapped after heavy rainfall led to major landslides in the hills of India’s southern Kerala state.
As well as the death toll, which is expected to rise, more than 70 people have been rescued with injuries, state health minister Veena George said. Many people are likely to have been washed away in the Chaliyar river, the Indian Express newspaper reported.
The landslides tore through hillside villages in the picturesque Wayanad region, the constituency of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.
Rescue operations have been hampered by the fact that the landslides have destroyed the main bridge in the region. The army has been called in to build a temporary bridge connecting the disaster site to the nearest town of Chooralmala.
“The situation is serious. The government has pressed all agencies into [the] rescue [effort],” state forest minister A K Saseendran told Reuters.
Videos showed relief personnel making their way through rocks and uprooted trees as muddy water gushed through, with many houses destroyed.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast extremely heavy rain to continue in the state through the day.
1722319312Watch: Rescue operation underway amid heavy rains in southern India
Rescue efforts hampered after bridge collapse
Rescue operations in Kerala are facing significant challenges after a major bridge collapsed due to landslides and heavy rainfall.
The bridge, which connected the affected area – primarily tea and cardamom estates – to the nearest town of Chooralmala, was destroyed, impacting the access.
The army was called in to construct a temporary bridge to restore the link and aid in the ongoing rescue efforts.
At least 23 confirmed dead and hundreds trapped in Kerala after landslides
At least 23 people were killed and scores injured after landslides in the hills of India’s southern Kerala state, authorities said.
“The situation is serious. The government has pressed all agencies into rescue,” state forest minister A K Saseendran told Reuters after the landslides in the Wayanad district of the state.
Over 70 people had sustained injuries, officials said with many workers from the tea estates feared trapped.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast extremely heavy rain in the state through the day.
Mehraj D Lone has more details:
Landslides caused by heavy rains kill 23 and bury hundreds in southern India
Multiple landslides hit hilly villages in Wayanad area
Stuti Mishra30 July 2024 06:34 1722316683
Welcome to The Independent’s live blog! Stay tuned for the latest updates from Kerala where hundreds are feared trapped after landslides.
Stuti Mishra30 July 2024 06:18Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
