Death Toll from Landslide in India Rises to 288... Heavy Rain Damage Continues in Northern Areas Including New Delhi

Low Chances of Survival for Missing Persons
5 Dead Due to Heavy Rain in Capital New Delhi

The death toll from a massive landslide caused by monsoon heavy rains in southern India has risen to 288.

Search operations are underway in the landslide-affected area of Kerala, India, on the 1st.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to local media including the Times of India on the 1st (local time), at least 288 people had died by that day due to landslides that struck hill villages near Mepati town in the Wayanad region of Kerala state on the 30th of last month. Most of the victims were known to have lived in fields or small houses nearby.

The Kerala state authorities announced that 227 people were still confirmed missing as of the previous day. Since the possibility of finding the missing alive is slim, the death toll is expected to rise further. The state authorities also reported that about 200 injured people from the landslide were transferred to nearby hospitals for treatment, and approximately 5,590 people have been rescued.

Military personnel and rescue workers continue search and rescue operations. At the same time, work is underway to rebuild roads destroyed by the landslide and a large bridge.

The landslide occurred after a record-breaking 572mm of heavy rain fell in the affected area on the 29th and 30th of last month. The first landslide occurred at around 1:15 a.m. on the 30th, followed by a stronger second landslide three hours later.

Meanwhile, damage from heavy rains is also occurring in the northern region, including the capital New Delhi. In New Delhi, five people died from drowning and other causes due to heavy rain that poured down the previous night. Additionally, in Himachal Pradesh state in the north, at least two people lost their lives and 50 are reported missing.