Landslides occurred in mountain villages at night. Most of the locals are locked out. The army came to help the rescuers. The natural disaster also affected tourists.
Photo: CK Thanseer/REUTERS
In the southern Indian state of Kerala, the death toll from landslides has reached 106. On Tuesday, July 30, local authorities announced that another 100 people were still missing. According to them, more than 120 rescued people were hospitalized.
Wayanad district has been lashed by heavy rains for the past few days. On the night of July 29, landslides occurred in hillside villages while local residents were sleeping. Land masses overturned cars, felled trees, destroyed roads and bridges. Some settlements are blocked. The blockade also affected seasonal workers working on the highland tea, coffee and cardamom plantations.
Indian Prime Minister Modi promises compensation
Rescue work is complicated by the ongoing downpour. The army, including the navy, was called in to help. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to pay 200,000 rupees (about 2,200 euros) in compensation to the families of the victims, as well as 50,000 rupees (about 550 euros) for each person injured.
The state of South Kerala is popular among tourists. According to the local press, 250 vacationers were stranded in one of the resorts as a result of the natural disaster.
