Dozens of people have been killed in the southern Indian state of Kerala due to landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains, with hundreds feared trapped under mud and debris. The collapse of a key bridge in the Wayanad district has hampered rescue efforts, as shown in images released by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) where rescue crews are searching for survivors and recovering bodies from the affected area.
According to officials, at least 49 people have been confirmed dead, with reports indicating higher death tolls. The Indian Army has deployed over 200 soldiers to assist in search and rescue efforts alongside state security forces and fire crews. Rescue operations continue as more rainfall and strong winds are forecasted in Kerala.
Experts attribute the increasing frequency of fatal floods and landslides to climate change, as well as human activities such as damming, deforestation, and development projects. In 2018, nearly 500 people lost their lives in Kerala during devastating floods, making it the worst flooding the state had experienced in almost a century. India’s worst landslide in recent decades, in 1998, resulted in at least 220 deaths in the Himalayan village of Malpa.
The situation in Kerala serves as a reminder of the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate the impact of natural disasters and human interventions on vulnerable communities, particularly as climate change continues to exacerbate the problem.
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