Landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains in India have killed at least 24 people, with many more feared trapped under mud and debris, officials said on Tuesday.
The southern state of Kerala has been hit hard by intense rains. The collapse of a crucial bridge in Wayanad district has made rescue efforts more difficult, according to local media.
Kerala’s Health Minister, Reena George, reported, “So far, we have received 24 bodies in different hospitals. Many are injured, they are under treatment” in district hospitals.
Pictures from the National Disaster Response Force show rescuers carrying bodies on stretchers through muddy ground and debris left by the landslides.
The Indian army has sent more than 200 soldiers to help with the search and rescue operations. The army stated, “Hundreds of people are suspected to have been trapped.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his support, saying, “I have assured the Kerala government of all possible help with the situation. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones and prayers with those injured.”
The Kerala disaster management agency has warned of more rain and strong winds on Tuesday.
Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who recently represented Wayanad in parliament, said he was “deeply anguished” by the disaster and hoped “those still trapped are brought to safety soon.”
Monsoon rains, which occur from June to September, are crucial for replenishing water supplies and supporting agriculture, but they can also cause severe flooding and landslides.
The frequency of such disasters has increased in recent years, with experts linking the rise to climate change, deforestation, and development projects.
Earlier this month, intense storms flooded parts of Mumbai, and lightning in Bihar killed at least 10 people. In 2021, floods and landslides in Kerala killed at least 25 people.
The 2018 floods in Kerala were the worst in nearly a century, claiming almost 500 lives.
