Death toll rises to 166 in landslides in India's Kerala state

A series of landslides occurred in the Wayanad district of southern India, triggered by torrential rains. The landslides resulted in significant loss of life, with at least 194 people confirmed dead. The number of missing persons is estimated to be around 180, although hopes of finding them alive are dwindling. Rescue efforts are being hindered by challenging terrain and further rainfall.

The death toll from landslides in Kerala, India has risen to 166, with nearly 200 people still missing. The landslides occurred in the hilly Wayanad region on Tuesday, trapping people in their homes as they slept. Heavy rain caused hillsides to collapse, sending mud, water, and boulders through tea and cardamom estates and small settlements. Rescue workers have been searching for survivors for two days, with nearly 1,000 people rescued so far. The local government is compiling data on the number of people in the area, those found, and those still missing. Incessant rain has caused fast-flowing rivers filled with mud, hampering rescue operations. Entire villages were submerged in mud, and hundreds of homes were swept away and crushed by the landslides.