The death toll in Tuesday's multiple landslides in the southern Indian state of Kerala has climbed to at least 200, with hundreds more reported missing, Reuters reports.
Triggered by heavy rains, three landslides had struck the Meppadi area in Kerala's rural Wayanad district early on Tuesday while communities were still asleep. Media reports said it was a massive natural tragedy rendering huge losses, including loss of human lives and property.
Thousands of villagers have been rescued from the impacted areas, with around 700 currently sheltering in relief camps set up in Wayanad. Authorities have established 45 such camps to accommodate the displaced.
"We have lost five family members. My wife's sister and her family have been killed in the landslide," said a man, his wife sitting beside him wiping away tears.
"I escaped narrowly because we were visiting relatives. But our house was washed away. We have nothing left and don't know where to take our children and how long we will stay in the relief camp," said another survivor in the camp.
Rescue teams have arrived in the region, searching for survivors amidst the destruction. However, the death toll is expected to rise further with many more bodies still being recovered from the debris at the foot of the mountains.
