Death toll rises to 143 in Kerala landslides

International Desk: Heavy rains have caused landslides in the southern state of India. The death toll has risen to 143. Dozens of people are still trapped whose rescue operations are continuing.

Most of the people were sleeping when the landslide hit the hilly area in the state's Wayanad district early on Tuesday. Heavy rains and the collapse of an important bridge are hampering rescue operations, the administration said. Online NDTV has given this news. 

It said authorities feared the number of casualties could rise. Emergency services are unable to reach the accident area as it is inaccessible. It is also feared that hundreds of people are still trapped in inaccessible places. After 2018, this disaster is the worst in Kerala due to landslides.

At that time more than four hundred people died in the flood in the state.  More than 200 army personnel have been deployed to assist security forces in search and rescue operations, officials said. 

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a press conference that the entire area was almost destroyed by the landslide on Tuesday. Hundreds of injured people are being treated in local hospitals. So far more than 3 thousand people have been rescued and around 45 relief camps have been set up there. 

65 dead bodies were found immediately after the incident. Later, another 16 bodies were recovered by raiding Chalia river. Besides, several body parts were found. As the state is hilly, there is a risk of landslides during the monsoon season.