ButSpeak.com
News which Matters.
Landslides in Wayanad, Kerala, have resulted in 151 deaths and nearly 1,000 rescues. The Indian Army and rescue workers continue to search for missing people amidst heavy rains.
Key Points
- Nearly 1,000 people have been rescued following landslides in Wayanad, Kerala.
- At least 151 people have died, and 187 remain missing.
- Heavy rains caused hillsides to collapse, resulting in torrents of mud and debris.
- The Indian Army is constructing an alternate bridge after the main bridge was destroyed.
- Rescue operations continue amidst challenging weather conditions.
Authorities in Kerala’s Wayanad district have rescued nearly 1,000 people after devastating landslides, with at least 151 confirmed dead and many still missing. The disaster, triggered by heavy rains in one of India’s most popular tourist destinations, caused hillsides to collapse early on Tuesday, sending torrents of mud, water, and boulders through tea and cardamom estates and small settlements. This has been the worst disaster in the state since the deadly floods of 2018.
The landslides, which primarily occurred on the upper slopes of the hills and cascaded into the valleys below, have left at least 187 people missing. “Focus right now is to search the entire uphill area for stranded people and recover as many bodies as possible,” said M R Ajith Kumar, a top state police officer.
P.M. Manoj, the state chief minister‘s spokesman, reported the death toll and the number of missing persons via phone to Reuters. The Indian Army has been actively involved in the rescue efforts, having saved 1,000 people so far and starting the process of constructing an alternate bridge after the main bridge connecting the worst-affected area of Mundakkai to the nearest town of Chooralmala was destroyed.
Near the site where the bridge was washed away, rescue workers in raincoats navigated through slush and rocks under steady rain. A land excavator was slowly removing trees and boulders from the mound of debris. “We are quite sure there are multiple bodies here,” said Hamsa T A, a fire and rescue worker, indicating the debris. “There were many houses here, people living inside have been missing.”
The landslides have caused significant damage, with nearly 350 of the 400 registered houses in the affected region reported as damaged, according to Asianet TV, citing district officials.
After a day of extremely heavy rainfall that hampered rescue operations, the weather department has forecast some respite on Wednesday, although rain is expected to continue throughout the day. The priority remains on searching for stranded people and recovering as many bodies as possible, as the region grapples with the aftermath of this devastating natural disaster.
