At least 106 people have been killed and hundreds more are feared trapped following heavy monsoon rains that battered India’s southwestern coast. The army has deployed around 200 soldiers to aid in rescue efforts.
In Kerala’s Wayanad district, landslides caused by the torrential rains buried entire villages and blocked roads, according to local media reports. Kerala Health Minister Veena George confirmed that eight bodies have been recovered, and at least 125 people have been taken to the hospital. George warned that the death toll is expected to rise as ongoing rains are hampering rescue operations.
“My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones and prayers with those injured,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on social media platform X.
Footage from the affected area showed homes covered in thick mud, with sludge and debris altering the landscape. State officials reported that at least 250 people have been rescued so far.
The Indian army announced that it had deployed over 200 troops to assist state security forces and rescue teams in the affected areas. “Hundreds of people are suspected to have been trapped,” the military stated.
While monsoons are a yearly phenomenon in India, scientists attribute the increasing devastation to climate change. Deforestation and development projects have exacerbated the situation. Earlier in July, fatal floods and landslides also struck India’s northeast.
