A Race Against Time

The southern Indian state of Kerala is reeling from a devastating landslide triggered by heavy monsoon rains, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming the lives of at least 166 people. Rescue workers are battling against time to locate survivors, with over 225 individuals still missing and feared trapped under debris.

"We thought the entire mountain is going to fall on us. We were fighting death that time."

Rescue efforts are hampered by blocked roads, unstable terrain, and incessant rainfall. The Indian Meteorological Department reported that Wayanad received a staggering 28cm of rain in the 24 hours preceding the landslides. Several affected areas remain inaccessible, further complicating rescue operations.

The state government has mobilized helicopters and called in the army to assist with rescue efforts. The focus is on searching for survivors and recovering bodies. The tragedy has once again highlighted the vulnerability of hilly regions to landslides, exacerbated by climate change and human activities like construction in eco-sensitive zones.

Climate scientists warn that erratic rainfall patterns and increased intensity of rainfall events are a direct consequence of the climate crisis. Human activities, such as construction in ecologically sensitive areas, further exacerbate the risk of landslides. The tragedy in Kerala serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address climate change and adopt sustainable land-use practices to prevent such devastating events in the future.