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India landslide: Dozens feared dead after flooding in Kerala | India landslide: Dozens feared dead after flooding in Kerala |
(about 16 hours later) | |
At least 22 people have been killed after monsoon-season floods triggered a landslide in the southern Indian state of Kerala. | |
Houses in Idukki district were swept away after torrential rain and flooding late on Friday night. | Houses in Idukki district were swept away after torrential rain and flooding late on Friday night. |
Rescuers have been recovering bodies from under debris but 44 people remain missing, Idduki MP Dean Kuriakose told the BBC. | |
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences. | |
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for Idukki on Friday, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall of more than 20cm (8in). | The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for Idukki on Friday, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall of more than 20cm (8in). |
The landslide happened at a settlement for tea workers in the Rajamalai area, around 25km (15 miles) from the tourist town of Munnar. | The landslide happened at a settlement for tea workers in the Rajamalai area, around 25km (15 miles) from the tourist town of Munnar. |
Local reports say as many as 20 houses of tea-plantation workers and their families were buried under the debris. | Local reports say as many as 20 houses of tea-plantation workers and their families were buried under the debris. |
Rescue efforts are ongoing, but operations have been hampered by heavy downpours, foggy conditions and the fear of more landslides. | |
Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of Kerala, said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was assisting rescue workers who were struggling to find bodies. | |
The site had been completely cut off after a bridge to the area collapsed amid the flooding. | |
But the bridge has now been restored, allowing more rescue workers, including local police and firefighters, to attend the scene. | |
"Only one of the four layams (line houses) was searched and [we] recovered 17 bodies yesterday. Searches under the debris of other rows started today," Mr Kuriakose, the lawmaker for the area, told the BBC on Saturday. | |
"The death toll has gone up to 22 now, and 44 are missing. We have now received two heavy earthmovers and rock breakers, and rains have subsided." | |
The tragedy occurred on the first anniversary of the landslides in Malappuram and Wayanad districts that claimed more than 50 lives during the 2019 floods. | The tragedy occurred on the first anniversary of the landslides in Malappuram and Wayanad districts that claimed more than 50 lives during the 2019 floods. |
Kerala also witnessed severe floods in August 2018, during which thousands of homes were swept away and more than 400 people were killed. | Kerala also witnessed severe floods in August 2018, during which thousands of homes were swept away and more than 400 people were killed. |
More heavy rainfall is expected in southern and eastern India this weekend. The IMD said a low pressure system was brewing over the Bay of Bengal, as the monsoon season reaches its peak. | |
The season lasts from June to September and wreaks havoc across South Asia every year. | |
Several parts of another southern Indian state, Karnataka, have also been affected by heavy rainfall and landslides. | Several parts of another southern Indian state, Karnataka, have also been affected by heavy rainfall and landslides. |
You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
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