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| India landslide: At least 17 killed and up to 150 missing after homes crushed in rural village | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A landslide in a rural part of western India has killed at least 17 people and trapped up to 150, after heavy rainfall caused thick mud to crush thatched huts and brick houses on Wednesday. | |
| A national disaster official confirmed the death toll, as seven teams of rescue workers and local residents attempted to rescue people from the sludge and place them on stretchers in the village 60 km (37 miles) from the city of Pune, in Maharashtra state. | A national disaster official confirmed the death toll, as seven teams of rescue workers and local residents attempted to rescue people from the sludge and place them on stretchers in the village 60 km (37 miles) from the city of Pune, in Maharashtra state. |
| But a combination of rain, mud, poor communications and looming nightfall hampered rescue efforts. By Wednesday evening, only two residents had been rescued, Sandeep Rai Rathore, inspector general of the national disaster force, told Reuters. | But a combination of rain, mud, poor communications and looming nightfall hampered rescue efforts. By Wednesday evening, only two residents had been rescued, Sandeep Rai Rathore, inspector general of the national disaster force, told Reuters. |
| Rescuers planned to use floodlights mounted on two jeeps sent from Pune to continue their efforts overnight, Earthmoving vehicles were also being put to use, according to officials. | Rescuers planned to use floodlights mounted on two jeeps sent from Pune to continue their efforts overnight, Earthmoving vehicles were also being put to use, according to officials. |
| “The area is quite a difficult terrain,” said Rathore, adding that rescuers were trying to determine how many people were caught in the landslide. | “The area is quite a difficult terrain,” said Rathore, adding that rescuers were trying to determine how many people were caught in the landslide. |
| Dozens of brick houses and thatch huts were badly damaged in the village in the Ambegaon sub-district, he said, adding the number of people missing could be as high as 150. | Dozens of brick houses and thatch huts were badly damaged in the village in the Ambegaon sub-district, he said, adding the number of people missing could be as high as 150. |
| Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent Home Affairs minister Rajnath Singh to Pune to assess the situation. | Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent Home Affairs minister Rajnath Singh to Pune to assess the situation. |
| “The Prime Minister has condoled the loss of lives in the landslide, and directed all possible efforts to help the affected people,” a government statement said. | “The Prime Minister has condoled the loss of lives in the landslide, and directed all possible efforts to help the affected people,” a government statement said. |
| While the downpours of the rainy season are essential to India’s agriculture, they often bring disaster. | While the downpours of the rainy season are essential to India’s agriculture, they often bring disaster. |
| Unprecedented rain in June last year wreaked havoc across India's Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, causing rivers and lakes to burst their banks, inundating towns and villages and killing thousands of people. | Unprecedented rain in June last year wreaked havoc across India's Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, causing rivers and lakes to burst their banks, inundating towns and villages and killing thousands of people. |
| Poorly managed hydro-power projects were partly to blame for those floods, an environment ministry panel said in April. | Poorly managed hydro-power projects were partly to blame for those floods, an environment ministry panel said in April. |
| Additional reporting by agencies. | Additional reporting by agencies. |