Dozens missing as landslide in India kills 158

News7f July 31, 2024

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Dozens missing as landslide in India kills 158

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the disaster “wiped out an entire area”. Several people are still missing.

Getty Images A woman cries as she waits at a primary health centre in Meppadi in Kerala's Wayanad district in India on July 30, 2024. — Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the disaster “wiped out an entire area”. Several people are still missing.

The death toll from a massive landslide in the southern Indian state of Kerala has now risen to 158, while officials say 187 people are still missing.

Rescue operations that were halted on Tuesday night resumed on Wednesday morning.

The landslide was the worst disaster to hit the state since 2018, when floods killed more than 400 people.

Indian flags were flown at half-mast at government buildings in the state for two days in his memory.

The landslides began at 2 a.m. Tuesday, taking villages in the area by surprise.

EPA Floodwater flows past a house after a landslide in Mylambadi, Wayanad district, Kerala, southern India, July 30. — The landslides began at 2 a.m. Tuesday, taking villages in the area by surprise.

The disaster left Mundakkai village cut off by a river, making rescue operations very difficult amid heavy rain.

Reuters A rescue worker walks past a damaged car at the site of a landslide following multiple landslides in the hills of Wayanad — The disaster left Mundakkai village cut off by a river, making rescue operations very difficult amid heavy rain.

The disaster that struck the Mundakkai and Chooralmala areas of Wayanad district has “wiped out an entire area,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told a press conference on Tuesday.

The district and surrounding areas were on alert due to heavy rains on Wednesday. Schools and colleges were closed in 12 of the state’s 14 districts.

Joint rescue operations are being carried out by the army, navy and air force along with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and police and fire brigade teams.

More than 3,000 people have been rescued and moved to 45 relief camps.

On Tuesday evening, air force helicopters carried out search and rescue operations to evacuate people trapped in Mundakkai, which was cut off by a river because of the disaster.

A small team of rescuers crossed the river and reached the area, officials said.

“Until 10 p.m. [16:30GMT] “We rescued 70 people last night, after which we had to stop due to bad weather and rains,” NDRF Commander Akhilesh Kumar told news agency ANI.

Rescue efforts have been hampered by heavy rain in the area.

In Chooralmala, the army said it used ropes to cross the flooded river to assist and carry out rescue efforts.

Rescue teams plan to build a temporary bridge across the river to reach those still trapped.

The rescue teams included people from the Indian Army, Air Force, firefighters and the National Disaster Response Force.

Reuters Rescue team members move to the landslide site after multiple landslides in the hills of Wayanad — The rescue teams included people from the Indian Army, Air Force, firefighters and the National Disaster Response Force.

Soldiers used ropes to swing across a flooded river to rescue trapped villagers.

Reuters Rescue team members carry out rescue operations at a landslide site after multiple landslides in the hills of Wayanad — Soldiers used ropes to swing across a flooded river to rescue trapped villagers.

The landslides occurred at around 02:00 Indian time on Tuesday. [20:30 on Monday] in an area surrounded by tea and cardamom plantations.

Mr Vijayan said the area was not prone to landslides and the sleeping villagers were caught by surprise, leading to the high number of casualties.

Among those still missing are plantation workers and migrant workers who once lived here.

Rescue workers said they were searching for survivors under collapsed roofs and the rubble of destroyed homes.

A local man told news agency PTI that he saw mud-covered bodies sitting on chairs and lying on beds in a house.

The army plans to build a temporary bridge across the river.

Getty Images Army officials, rescue teams and civilians help rescue people at the scene of the disaster, where landslides destroyed hundreds of homes, leading to mass casualties in the Wayanad area — The army plans to build a temporary bridge across the river.

The landslide is the worst disaster to hit the state since devastating floods in 2018.

Getty Images Relief workers conduct search and rescue operations at a site following a landslide in Wayanad — The landslide is the worst disaster to hit the state since devastating floods in 2018.

Rahul Gandhi, India’s opposition leader in parliament and former MP from Wayanad district, said his plans to visit the disaster-hit area were cancelled after authorities warned him that “continuous rains and adverse weather conditions” would make it difficult for him to travel.

His Congress party raised the issue of the disaster in parliament on Tuesday.