The death toll has risen to at least 93 in three landslides in four hours triggered by heavy rains in Vener district in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Besides, hundreds more people are feared to be trapped.
The landslide occurred in the mountainous region of Wenner district in the early hours of Tuesday (July 30).
According to the media BBC, the rescue work is still going on. However, heavy rains and the collapse of an important bridge are hampering rescue efforts.
The state’s top government official V Venu told the media, ‘The situation is still very serious. The death toll may increase.
After 2018, this is the first such major disaster in Kerala. More than four hundred people lost their lives in the terrible flood of that time.
According to official sources, more than two hundred army personnel have been deployed to assist in rescue operations.
At least 129 injured are being treated in local hospitals. About 250 people were rescued and sent to relief camps. Besides 65 confirmed deaths in Wayanad, 16 bodies were found in Chaliya river. Some body parts were recovered.
Landslides occur during monsoons in the hilly Wenner district. These landslides affected various areas including Mundakkai, Attamala, Churalmala and Kunholm.
Videos on social media showed muddy water flowing over unpaved roads and forested areas, inundating homes and trapping people and vehicles. The bridge connecting Churalmala and Mundakkai collapsed, cutting off communication between the two areas and making it difficult for rescue workers to reach the trapped families.
At least three landslides occurred overnight, local resident Rashid Padikkalparamban told Reuters. Which washed away the bridge.
State and national disaster relief teams are continuing rescue operations. Locals are helping in this work. State official Venu said a small group managed to cross the river to reach the isolated area. But more equipment is needed and the river’s strong currents make it difficult for rescuers to cross the river.
Relief operations by aircraft also had to be suspended due to heavy rains. Raghavan C Arunamala, a local resident, described the horrifying scene, saying, “I heard a man screaming for help after seeing him trapped in the rubble.” Firefighters and rescue workers have been trying to reach him for the past few hours.
According to local media reports, people are flocking to hospitals in search of their loved ones. About 350 families lived in the affected area. where many tea and cardamom gardeners resided. Most of the victims were probably sleeping in their mud houses at the time of the landslide.
Heavy rains are still forecast in Wenner district and surrounding areas. Schools and colleges in 10 districts out of 14 districts have been closed. In 2019, 17 people died in a landslide in Puthumala area of Wayanad.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X (ex-Twitter) that he had spoken to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and assured cooperation from the central government. Modi announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
