Landslides in India triggered by pounding monsoon rains have claimed the lives of at least 36 individuals, with many more feared to be trapped under mud and debris, officials revealed on Tuesday.
The state of Kerala on the southern coast has been severely impacted by heavy rains, with a key bridge collapse in the Wayanad district hindering rescue operations, as per local media accounts.
“Thirty-six fatalities have been confirmed following the landslide in Wayanad,” informed district official D.R. Meghasree.
Kerala’s health minister Veena George mentioned to the Press Trust of India that “numerous” individuals had suffered injuries and were receiving medical attention in hospitals.
Residences were coated in brown sludge as the landslide’s force scattered cars, metal sheets, and other detritus in the affected region.
The Indian army disclosed that over 200 soldiers were dispatched to assist local security forces and fire brigades in search and rescue endeavors.
“Numerous individuals are believed to be stuck,” as stated in their declaration.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the Kerala government of providing “all necessary support” to deal with the situation.
“My sympathies are with all those who have lost their dear ones and prayers for the injured,” he expressed in a post on the social media platform X.
His office announced that families of the victims would receive a compensation sum of $2,400 (200,000 rupees).
Further rainfall and strong winds were projected in Kerala on Tuesday, cautioned the state’s disaster management agency.
– ‘Deeply anguished’ –
Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, a former representative for Wayanad in parliament, expressed being “deeply anguished” by the tragic event.
“I hope those still trapped are rescued soon,” he added.
Several injured individuals from the landslides were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The monsoon showers between June and September provide relief from the summer heat and are crucial for replenishing water sources.
They are essential for agriculture and the livelihoods of numerous farmers, ensuring food security for nearly two billion people in South Asia.
However, they also bring devastation in the form of landslides and floods.
The incidence of fatal floods and landslides has risen in recent years, with climate change exacerbating the issue.
Dam construction, deforestation, and development projects in India have also exacerbated the human toll.
In the earlier part of this month, intense monsoon storms battered India, causing flooding in parts of Mumbai and claiming lives due to lightning strikes in Bihar.
Almost 500 individuals lost their lives in Kerala in 2018 during the state’s worst flooding in nearly a hundred years.
India’s most severe landslide in recent history occurred in 1998, claiming the lives of at least 220 people as heavy monsoon rains triggered rockfalls and completely buried the village of Malpa in the Himalayas.
ash/gle/mtp
