Monsoon Rains Kill At Least 43 in India's Kerala State
At least 43 people have died after torrential rains triggered a landslide in the southwestern Indian state Kerala.
There are dozens more feared buried, according to CNN. The landslide swept into a settlement housing workers on a tea plantation in Idukki district late when most residents were sleeping. Dozens of houses were destroyed and 11 injured people were taken to local hospitals.
Search and rescue workers spent the weekend digging through thick mud and debris, as well as more heavy rain. At least 25 people remain missing, according to district lawmaker Dean Kuriakose.
More than 500 personnel from local forces and the National Disaster Response Force have been deployed to sift through the debris, he added.
"Despite inclement weather and harsh conditions, the search for those who went missing is progressing," said Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in a tweet on Aug. 9.
The Indian Meteorological Department issued a warning of "heavy to very heavy rainfall" in certain parts of the state for the next 24 hours on Aug. 2. By Aug. 9, a red alert was in place for seven of the state's 14 districts.
According to CNN, Kerala has been battered by rain and flooding for weeks. Since May, monsoon rains have triggered deadly flooding in Assam and Bihar, affecting more than 2.4 million people. Large parts of a national park were swamped and more than 100 wild animals were killed, including a dozen rhinos.
Nepal has also endured massive landslides and severe flooding, reported CNN. Nearly one third of Bangladesh have been affected by floods as well.
In 2018, Kerala was hit with its worst flooding in almost a century after unusually high rainfall.
