In a devastating landslide in southern India, at least 166 people have lost their lives, with more than 200 missing. The disaster, triggered by heavy rains in Kerala, triggered torrents of mud, water and rocks that buried or swept away people as they slept. This is the state's worst disaster since the fatal floods of 2018, and climate scientists believe it is likely linked to changing conditions from the warming Arabian Sea.
Nearly 1,000 people have been rescued from communities in Wayanad district, nestled in the Western Ghats mountain range and known for its tea plantations. The disaster has also left 195 injured, while 225 remain missing. The area had experienced substantial rainfall over the past two weeks, which softened the ground and set the stage for landslides that followed an extremely heavy downpour on Monday.
The region was expected to receive 204 mm of rain, but ended up with a staggering 572 mm in just 48 hours, according to the Kerala Chief Minister. The deluge destroyed a bridge connecting Mundakkai with the nearest town of Chooralmala. Rescue workers are currently searching for bodies in the mud and rocks near the washed-out bridge.
The Indian Navy's rescue team has reached the area, deploying rescue helicopters. However, the ongoing adverse weather conditions due to incessant rains pose significant challenges to their efforts.
India has been struggling with extreme weather conditions such as torrential rains, floods, droughts and cyclones in recent years. Many experts attribute these events to climate change. Monsoons in particular are increasingly erratic. Dr S Abhilash, a climate scientist at Cochin University in Kerala, explained that the higher rate of warming in the Arabian Sea compared to other regions is causing more evaporation in the atmosphere, making the region a hot spot for to deep convective clouds. These clouds were carried by the winds towards the land, resulting in the present disaster.
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