The death toll from the devastating landslides in Kerala, southern India, has risen to over 158, with officials reporting more than 220 people still missing. Rescue workers are tirelessly searching through collapsed roofs and debris of destroyed houses for potential survivors.
The disaster struck early Tuesday morning, as torrents of mud and water swept through the region, flattening homes and uprooting trees. Continuous heavy rains are hindering rescue operations.
These landslides are the worst disaster to hit Kerala since 2018, when floods claimed over 400 lives. The tragedy occurred in the Mundakkai and Chooralmala areas of Wayanad district, known for their tea and cardamom estates.
Rescue efforts, which paused late Tuesday night, resumed on Wednesday morning. Visuals from the scene depict the extent of the destruction, with uprooted trees littering submerged roads and homes reduced to rubble.
A local man told PTI news agency that he saw mud-covered bodies seated on chairs and lying on beds in one of the houses.
