Survivor Search After South India Mudslides
Rescuers worked tirelessly, pulling people from the debris after multiple landslides triggered by torrential rains in southern India resulted in 49 fatalities. Many others are feared trapped under the debris, with rescue operations hampered by bad weather.
The landslides struck hilly villages in Kerala state’s Wayanad district early Tuesday, destroying numerous houses and a bridge. Authorities have yet to determine the full extent of the disaster. Rescuers faced significant challenges due to blocked roads and unstable terrain while trying to extract people from the mud and debris.
PM Manoj, the press secretary to the Kerala chief minister, confirmed that at least 49 people have died so far. Television footage showed rescue workers navigating through mud and uprooted trees to reach stranded individuals. Vehicles swept off the roads were seen stuck in a swollen river.
Authorities mobilized helicopters to assist with rescue efforts, and the Indian army was brought in to construct a temporary bridge after a main bridge was destroyed by the landslides. “We are trying every way to rescue our people,” stated state Health Minister Veena George.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress over the landslides in Wayanad in a post on social media platform X. He extended his condolences to the victims’ families and announced compensation of $2,388 to each family.
The Indian Meteorological Department has put Kerala on alert as the state continues to be lashed by incessant rains, disrupting daily life and leading to school closures in some parts. More rain is predicted throughout the day.
Kerala is prone to heavy rains, flooding, and landslides. In 2018, nearly 500 people were killed in one of the worst floods in the state’s history. The state has experienced heavy rainfall over its northern and central regions, with Wayanad district recording up to 28 centimeters (11 inches) of rain in the last 24 hours.
Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, highlighted the increasing frequency of landslides and floods due to erratic monsoon patterns and rapid rainfall within short periods. He emphasized the need for authorities to monitor construction activities in landslide-prone areas.
A 2013 federal government-appointed committee report recommended that 37% of the Western Ghats mountains’ total area be declared an ecosensitive area, proposing restrictions on construction. However, these recommendations have not been implemented due to opposition from state governments and residents.
India regularly experiences severe floods during the monsoon season, which runs from June to September, bringing most of South Asia’s annual rainfall. While the rains are crucial for rain-fed crops, they often cause extensive damage. Scientists attribute the increasing erratic nature of monsoons to climate change and global warming.
