Authorities reported on Wednesday that nearly 1,000 people have been rescued following landslides in the hills of Wayanad district, Kerala. The disaster, triggered by heavy rain, has resulted in at least 151 fatalities, with 187 people still unaccounted for.
The landslides, which struck early Tuesday, unleashed torrents of mud, water, and boulders through tea and cardamom estates and small settlements, making it the most severe disaster in the state since the deadly floods of 2018.
The Indian Army has successfully rescued 1,000 individuals and has started efforts to construct an alternate bridge, as the main bridge connecting the affected area to Chooralmala was destroyed.
Approximately 350 out of the 400 registered houses in the region have been damaged, according to Asianet TV.
Despite a day of intense rainfall that hindered rescue operations, the weather department anticipates some relief on Wednesday, though rain is expected to persist throughout the day.
M R Ajith Kumar, a state law and order official, emphasized the urgency of searching the uphill areas for stranded individuals and recovering as many bodies as possible.
