Landslides in Kerala, India Kill 151, Rescue Efforts Hampered by Heavy Rain

Hundreds of rescue workers are digging through mud and debris after landslides in Kerala, southern India, have killed at least 151 people, police say.

On Wednesday, officials reported that nearly 1,000 people have been rescued, but 187 remain missing following the landslides that struck Wayanad district early Tuesday morning. The Indian Army has rescued 1,000 people and is working on building a new bridge after the main one connecting the hardest-hit area, Mundakkai, with the town of Chooralmala was washed away.

Mundakkai is in a region prone to disasters. The landslides, which began at the top of the hills, reached the town of Chooralmala, 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) away.

Rescue efforts have been challenging due to heavy rainfall, blocked roads, and unstable terrain. Over 300 rescuers worked through the night to find and rescue those trapped under mud and debris. They found more than a dozen bodies overnight. Nearly 350 of the 400 registered houses in the affected area have been damaged, according to reports.

The first landslide occurred at 2 a.m. on Tuesday (20:30 GMT on Monday), with another following two hours later. Rescue workers were seen making their way through mud and uprooted trees, while vehicles washed off the roads were stuck in swollen rivers. Local media also broadcast calls from stranded people requesting help.

Weather conditions are expected to improve slightly on Wednesday, though rain will likely continue throughout the day. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the area received 572 millimeters (22.5 inches) of rain in the two days before the landslides.

The government has moved more than 3,000 people to relief camps and is ensuring that they receive food and other essentials. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress over the landslides and announced compensation of 200,000 rupees ($2,388) for the victims’ families.

The monsoon rains, which occur from June to September, are crucial for replenishing water supplies and supporting agriculture across South Asia. However, they also cause floods and landslides. Experts say climate change is making these extreme weather events more frequent.

In addition to the current disaster, intense storms this month have flooded parts of Mumbai and caused lightning strikes in Bihar, killing at least 10 people. Kerala also faced severe flooding in 2018, which killed nearly 500 people, marking the worst flooding in the state in almost a century.