(CTN News) – The death toll from the catastrophic landslides that hit the southern Indian state of Kerala has now surpassed 158, with officials reporting that more than 220 people are still missing.
Rescue workers say they are looking for survivors under collapsed roofs and rubble from wrecked homes.
Thick floods of mud and water slammed across the area early Tuesday morning, destroying homes and uprooting trees.
Heavy rains persist in the area, complicating rescue efforts.
The landslides are the most severe disaster to strike the state since 2018, when floods killed over 400 people.
The calamity occurred in Wayanad district’s Mundakkai and Chooralmala villages, which are bordered by tea and cardamom plantations.
Landslide Rescue and Recovery Efforts
Rescue operations, which had been suspended late Tuesday night, began on Wednesday morning.
Visuals from the site show the extent of the devastation, with uprooted trees laying on inundated roadways and ruined homes.
A nearby resident told PTI that he spotted mud-covered people seated on chairs and resting on mattresses in one of the houses.
More than 3,000 individuals have been evacuated and relocated to 45 relief sites thus far. Plantation workers and migrant labourers who lived here are still missing.
Rescue activities are being carried out by the army, navy, and air force, as well as the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and police and fire departments.
Photos show rescuers extracting individuals from beneath the boulders and transporting them to safety. In some areas, rescue crews are attempting to build a temporary bridge to reach those stuck across the flooded river.
However, the attempts are exacerbated by strong rains and rugged terrain, making it difficult to reach the casualties.The landslides also destroyed critical bridges that connected isolated communities.
Future Outlook and Recovery from the Landslides
On Tuesday evening, air force helicopters were dispatched to rescue residents stranded in Mundakkai, which had been cut off by the river.
In Chooralmala, the army said it used ropes to abseil across the overflowing river to reach stranded individuals.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the region was not known to be prone to landslides, and sleeping residents were taken off guard, resulting in a large number of casualties.
On Wednesday, many opposition MPs raised the matter in parliament, demanding that the landslides be designated a national catastrophe.
Rahul Gandhi, the head of India’s opposition in parliament and a former MP from Wayanad district, cancelled his intentions to visit the disaster-hit region after authorities told him that “incessant rains and adverse weather conditions” would make travel difficult.
Anna Wong serves as the editor of the Chiang Rai Times, bringing precision and clarity to the publication. Her leadership ensures that the news reaches readers with accuracy and insight. With a keen eye for detail,
