Landslides in India’s Tea Plantations Kill at Least 93, With Many More Rescued
Torrential monsoon rains have triggered devastating landslides in India’s southern state of Kerala, killing at least 93 people and leaving many more stranded in the tea plantations of Wayanad district. According to officials, at least 250 others have been rescued from the mud and debris, with 128 people hospitalized for treatment.
The Kerala chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, described the disaster as “one of the worst natural calamities that our state has seen.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, saying his thoughts were with those who had lost loved ones and praying for those injured.
The landslides occurred in the early hours of the morning, when most inhabitants of the tea estates were asleep. Rescue crews have been working tirelessly to search for survivors and carry bodies out of the disaster area. Images published by the National Disaster Response Force show rescue teams trudging through mud and debris to reach those trapped.
India’s army has deployed over 200 soldiers to assist in the search-and-rescue efforts, while Kerala state excise minister M.B. Rajesh reported that more than 250 people have been rescued so far. Families of victims will receive a compensation payment of $2,400 (200,000 rupees), according to Modi’s office.
The disaster has raised concerns about the impact of climate change on India’s natural disasters. Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who previously represented Wayanad in parliament, described the devastation as “heartbreaking” and called for a comprehensive action plan to address the growing frequency of natural calamities.
Monsoon rains, which typically occur from June to September, are crucial for replenishing water supplies and supporting agriculture. However, they also bring destruction in the form of landslides and floods. Experts say the number of fatal floods and landslides has increased in recent years, with climate change exacerbating the problem.
The Indian government has faced criticism for its handling of previous natural disasters, including the 2018 flooding in Kerala that killed nearly 500 people. The country’s worst landslide in recent decades occurred in 1998, when rockfalls triggered by heavy monsoon rains killed at least 220 people and buried the tiny village of Malpa in the Himalayas.
As the situation in Kerala continues to unfold, concerns are growing about the potential for further landslides and flooding in the region.
