At least 84 people had been killed and hundreds were feared to have been trapped by landslides in India’s southern Kerala state, local media reported Tuesday.
Heavy monsoon rains buried entire villages and blocked roads in the Wayanad district, according to the Hindu newspaper. Kerala Health Minister Veena George said they had uncovered eight bodies and brought at least 70 people to the hospital so far.
George cautioned that the death toll was likely to rise as the unyielding rain was hampering rescue efforts.
“My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones and prayers with those injured,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on social media platform X.
India’s army said it had deployed more than 200 troops to the area to assist state security forces and rescue crews.
