Frantic search for survivors after mudslides in southern India

Rescuers continued their efforts on Tuesday to save people trapped under debris after torrential rains caused multiple landslides in southern India, resulting in the deaths of 49 people.

Many others are feared to be trapped, with rescue operations facing challenges due to adverse weather conditions. The landslides struck hilly villages in Kerala’s Wayanad district early Tuesday, destroying numerous homes and a bridge. Authorities are still assessing the full extent of the damage.

Rescue teams, working amid mud and uprooted trees, are struggling due to blocked roads and unstable terrain. Vehicles swept away by the landslides were seen stuck in a swollen river.

Prime Minister Manoj, press secretary to the Kerala chief minister, confirmed the death toll of at least 49. The Indian army has been enlisted to build a temporary bridge after the main bridge was destroyed, and helicopters have been mobilized to assist with rescue efforts.

State Health Minister Veena George emphasized that all possible measures are being taken to rescue those affected. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress over the situation in Wayanad, a part of the Western Ghats mountain range. Modi offered condolences and announced compensation of $2,388 for the victims’ families.

Kerala has been put on high alert due to ongoing heavy rains, which have disrupted daily life and led to the closure of schools in some areas. The state is prone to severe weather events, including heavy rains, flooding, and landslides. In 2018, nearly 500 people were killed in one of Kerala’s worst floods.

The Indian Meteorological Department reported that Wayanad received up to 28 centimeters (11 inches) of rain in the past 24 hours. Climate scientist Roxy Mathew Koll noted that erratic monsoon patterns and increased rainfall over short periods are leading to more frequent landslides and floods in the Western Ghats.

Koll highlighted the impact of rapid construction in landslide-prone areas and the need for stricter regulations. A 2013 federal report recommended designating 37% of the Western Ghats as an eco-sensitive zone and restricting construction, but these recommendations have not been implemented due to opposition from state governments and residents.

The monsoon season, which runs from June to September, is crucial for rain-fed crops but often brings severe weather and extensive damage. Climate change and global warming are contributing to the increasing unpredictability of monsoon rains.