Photos: Landslides in Kerala's Wayanad kill several, hundreds trapped

A damaged car at the landslide site in Wayanad. At least 108 people died in the landslides that hit the southern state of Kerala in the early hours of Tuesday after heavy rains battered the area for hours, according to media reports.

Relief personnel conduct a search and rescue operation at a site following landslides in Wayanad on July 30, 2024.

NDRF personnel conduct a rescue operation after huge landslides in the hilly areas near Meppadi, in Wayanad district

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel at the disaster site as they rescue victims of the landslide in Wayanad. Kerala Minister AK Saseendran confirmed that 106 people have died so far in the landslides that hit the Meppadi area in Wayanad in the early hours of Tuesday. Union Minister of State George Kurian is heading to Wayanad to lead relief and rescue operations.

Meanwhile, Kerala Forest Minister Saseendran reached the affected area to assess the damage and coordinate immediate response measures, state minister Ramachandran Kadannappalli will be soon joining the efforts on the ground. Above, rescue operation is underway after massive landslides hit the Meppadi area triggered by torrential rains.

In addition, a delegation of state ministers of Revenue, Public Works, and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Departments are travelling by air from Thiruvananthapuram and are expected to reach the site soon, as per the Kerala chief minister's office.

Kerala Minister MB Rajesh said that the state government is coordinating with various agencies to carry out rescue efforts on a "war footing." "The chief minister is closely monitoring the operation. He has sent a team of ministers to Wayanad. An IAS officer will be camping in Wayand to coordinate the rescue ops. Two hundred fifty people have been rescued and shifted to temporary shelter camps. We are airlifting stranded persons. All efforts are being taken by the government for rescue ops," the Kerala minister said.

Earlier, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan held discussions with top Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) officials on the situation in the landslide-affected Wayanad areas. "Evaluated the ongoing relief and rescue operations at Chooralmala, Wayanad, following the severe landslide, in a visit to the Kerala SDMA office," Vijayan said.

NDRF personnel at the disaster site as they rescue victims of the landslide in Wayanad. The Navy team is being despatched at the request of Chief Minister Pinrayi Vijayan, who sought the help of the Navy's River Crossing team, according to the Chief Minister's Office. Army and Air Force have also been mobilised for rescue operations in the area, which have been hampered by a main bridge collapse in the town of Chooralmala.

Relief personnel conduct a search and rescue operation at a site following landslides in Wayanad on July 30, 2024.

The Kerala Chief Minister's Office said that police drones and a dog squad will be deployed for search and rescue efforts as instructed by the Chief Minister. District Collector DR Meghashree said that a platoon of the Army had reached Churamala for rescue operations. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the Army chief and directed the mobilisation of forces for assistance and rescue in the landslide-hit area, saying that army teams had reached the ground.