Heavy rain in one of India’s most attractive tourist destinations collapsed hillsides. It triggered torrents of mud, water, and tumbling boulders in the worst disaster in the state since deadly floods in 2018.
Most of the 350 families living in the area surrounded by tea and cardamom estates were caught unaware by the landslides early on Tuesday morning.
At least 151 people died and 187 were still missing, the state chief minister’s spokesman, P.M. Manoj, told Reuters by phone.
Television visuals showed many houses destroyed and trees uprooted, as rescuers were pulled by ropes across muddy streams of water.
The government was considering making a portable, pre-fabricated Bailey bridge to connect the affected area after the main bridge to the nearest town of Chooralmala was destroyed, K. Rajan, the state revenue minister told Asianet TV.
After a day of hefty rainfall that hampered rescue operations, the weather department expects some respite on Wednesday, although the area will likely receive rain through the day.