At least 143 people have died and around 130 have been injured due to severe landslides in the hilly areas near Meppadi, Wayanad, Kerala, according to Health Minister Veena George.
Three landslides hit Wayanad within a four-hour period on Tuesday, prompting the deployment of multiple agencies, including the NDRF and the Army, for rescue efforts. Over 1,000 people have been rescued by the Army using a temporary bridge after the permanent one was swept away by heavy rains.
The Army, which had been on high alert for the past 15 days, received assistance requests from the Kerala government on Tuesday. Currently, 225 Army personnel, including medical teams, are involved in the rescue operations, with an additional 140 personnel on standby in Thiruvananthapuram.
Two Air Force helicopters, a Mi-17 and an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), are also aiding in the rescue mission. Sniffer dogs from New Delhi and bridge equipment are en route to assist further.
The NDRF has warned of potential additional landslides due to ongoing heavy rainfall. A control room has been established, and emergency helpline numbers 9656938689 and 8086010833 have been issued for assistance.