By James Myers, OAN Staff
Monday, July 29, 2024 8:22 AM
Heavy rains have triggered devastating landslides in the southern Indian state of Kerala, leaving more than 93 people dead and dozens still trapped.
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The landslide hit the hilly areas of Wayanad district in Kerala early on Tuesday.
Rescue efforts are underway but rescue teams are struggling to reach Wayanad district because bridges have collapsed and roads have been washed away. State officials said more than 400 families were stranded in remote villages because the only road connecting Kerala to the rest of the country was cut off.
“The situation remains extremely serious. The casualties may rise,” the state’s top civil servant, V Venu, told media.
This is the worst landslide to hit Kerala since 2018, when horrific floods killed over 400 people.
Chief Minister Pinali Vijayan said Tuesday’s “landslide has devastated the entire area.”
Officials said local hospitals were treating at least 123 injured and that more than 3,000 people had been rescued and moved to 45 relief camps. Footage showed water flooding into heavily damaged residential areas.
Wayanad is a hilly area and is considered prone to landslides during the monsoon season.
The India Meteorological Department said on Tuesday that heavy rains were expected to continue for at least the next 24 hours in Kerala and issued a red alert for several districts. Schools in the region have also been closed due to flooding caused by the heavy rains.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X that he had spoken to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and said the Union government would assist in the situation.
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