93 people have been confirmed dead with many others in need of rescue on Tuesday in a landslide that was triggered by intense monsoon rains in Kerala, India.
The disaster struck tea plantations in the southern state of Kerala on Monday.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, “93 dead bodies have been found so far. This is one of the worst natural calamities that our state has seen.” He added that 128 people were hospitalized after being rescued.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sympathy, stating, “My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones and prayers with those injured.”
The landslides occurred in Wayanad district, known for its tea estates. Many workers, who live on the estates, were asleep when the landslides hit. Rescue teams, including more than 200 soldiers, are working to find survivors and recover bodies. Images from the National Disaster Response Force show rescuers navigating through thick mud and debris.
M.B. Rajesh, Kerala’s excise minister, reported that over 250 people had been rescued so far. Modi’s office announced that the families of victims would receive compensation of $2,400 (200,000 rupees).
Kerala’s disaster management agency warned that more heavy rain and strong winds are expected.
Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi described the situation as “heartbreaking” and called for a “comprehensive action plan to address the growing frequency of natural calamities.”
Monsoon rains, crucial for agriculture and water supplies in South Asia, can also cause severe destruction. Experts, like Kartiki Negi from Climate Trends, note that climate change is making such extreme weather events more common.
“The number of extremely heavy rainfall days have increased,” said Negi. “The atmosphere is quite disturbed,” leading to more extreme events.
India has faced deadly landslides and floods in recent years. In 2018, Kerala experienced its worst flooding in nearly a century, killing nearly 500 people.
The worst landslide in recent decades occurred in 1998, when heavy rains caused rockfalls that killed at least 220 people in the Himalayas.
