At least 23 people were killed and hundreds feared trapped after torrential rains caused landslides in the southern Indian state of Kerala on Tuesday morning.
The landslides hit hilly villages near Meppadi in Wayanad district. Rescue workers were trying to pull out the villagers stuck under mud and debris, but their efforts were hampered due to blocked roads, unstable terrain and the collapse of a major bridge in the area.
The Indian Express put the death toll at 19, including at least two children.
More than 200 soldiers were deployed to the area, and two Indian Air Force helicopters had been mobilised for the rescue effort.
“Hundreds of people are suspected to have been trapped,” the armed forces said in a statement.
Citing unnamed officials, the Hindu newspaper said many houses, vehicles and shops had been submerged in mud and water. Chooralmala’s main bridge was also destroyed, according to the Indian Express, with many areas cut off.
The paper published photos showing torrents of brown swirling water amid fallen trees, large boulders and damaged buildings.
“The situation is serious. The government has pressed all agencies into rescue,” state Forest Minister A K Saseendran told the Reuters news agency.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, who represents the Wayanad constituency in India’s parliament, said he was “deeply anguished” by news of the landslides and that he hoped the trapped would soon be rescued.
India’s meteorological agency is predicting more rain in the coming hours.
Monsoon rains across South Asia from June to September offer respite from the summer heat and are crucial to replenishing water supplies, but also bring widespread death and destruction.
The number of fatal floods and landslides has increased in recent years and experts say climate change is exacerbating the problem.
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