According to reports in the Indian press, Kerala state authorities said they suspect dozens of people were trapped under the ground in multiple landslides that occurred following a heavy rainfall in the Wayanad district.
Authorities reported that 93 people were killed in the landslides, and that search and rescue efforts and evacuation operations were continuing.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared on his X account, “My prayers are with the injured and all those who lost their loved ones.”
Modi said he had contacted Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and added that they would provide “all possible assistance” regarding the disaster.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEVERELY DAMAGED
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said in a statement that a team from the Indian army and helicopters have been deployed to assist in search and rescue efforts carried out by local volunteers.
It was stated in the statement that the landslides caused serious damage to infrastructure and roads, and that 200 houses in the disaster-affected Chooralmala village were destroyed.
The statement reported that search and rescue efforts had slowed down due to adverse weather conditions in the region and that many residents had been evacuated to safe places.
State officials noted that the main bridge in the region was destroyed due to the disaster and the army was deployed to build a temporary bridge.
Authorities reported that 116 injured people were transferred to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Source: www.star.com.tr
