A series of landslides in southern India have claimed the lives of 99 people , with fears that many more are trapped under the rubble, officials announced on Tuesday. The landslides were triggered by heavy rainfall which caused mud and water to surge through tea estates and villages.
The landslides struck hilly regions in Kerala state's Wayanad district in India early Tuesday morning, demolishing houses, uprooting trees, and wrecking bridges. Rescue teams are working tirelessly to extract those buried under mud and debris, but their efforts are being hindered by blocked roads and unstable ground.
The full extent of the disaster is yet to be determined by authorities.
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Kerala's chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, confirmed that at least 93 people had lost their lives in the landslides and over 100 individuals were receiving medical treatment for injuries. He also stated that more than 3,000 people have been relocated to relief camps.
Vijayan did not provide specific numbers regarding how many people were still missing or trapped under the debris.
Local media outlets reported that the majority of the victims were workers from tea estates. Television footage depicted rescue workers navigating through mud and uprooted trees to reach those who were stranded.
Vehicles that had been swept off the roads were seen lodged in a swollen river. Local TV news channels also broadcast phone calls from stranded individuals pleading for assistance.
Authorities have deployed helicopters to aid in the rescue efforts and the Indian army has been enlisted to construct a temporary bridge.
"We are trying every way to rescue our people," said state Health Minister Veena George.
In a post on social media platform X, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress over the landslides in parts of Wayanad, a hilly district in the Western Ghats mountain range.
"My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones and prayers with those injured," wrote Modi. He also announced a compensation of 200,000 rupees ($2,388) for the victims' families.
The weather department of India has issued an alert for Kerala as the state is being battered by relentless rains. The downpours have disrupted daily life for many, leading to school closures in some areas on Tuesday.
More rainfall is expected throughout the day.
Kerala, a popular tourist destination in India, is susceptible to heavy rains, flooding, and landslides. In one of the worst floods in 2018, nearly 500 people lost their lives in the state.
The Indian Meteorological Department reported that the state has experienced heavy rainfall over its northern and central regions, with Wayanad district recording up to 28 centimeters (11 inches) of rain in the past 24 hours.
"Monsoon patterns are increasingly erratic and the quantum of rainfall that we receive in a short spell of time has increased. As a result, we see frequent instances of landslides and floods along the Western Ghats," stated Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.
Koll also advised that authorities should monitor rapid construction activities occurring over landslide-prone areas.
"Often landslides and flash floods occur over regions where the impact of both climate change and direct human intervention in terms of land use changes are evident," he explained.
Back in 2013, a committee appointed by the federal government recommended that a whopping 37% of the Western Ghats mountains should be designated as an ecosensitive zone, suggesting tight restrictions on construction activities. However, the report's advice has yet to see the light of day, facing resistance from state governments and local communities.
India is no stranger to severe flooding, especially during the monsoon season which spans from June to September, delivering the bulk of South Asia's annual precipitation. While these rains are vital for the crops sown in this period, they frequently result in significant destruction.
Experts warn that due to climate change and global warming, monsoons are becoming increasingly unpredictable.
This piece includes contributions from AP writer Sibi Arasu based in Bengaluru, India.
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