THIRUVANANTHPURAM: About 19 people were killed following multiple landslides in the hills of India’s southern state of Kerala on Tuesday, local media reported, with poor Internet connectivity and heavy rain hampering rescue efforts.
According to Indian media, hundreds of people are likely to be trapped while many houses destroyed after the mishap. Reuters news agency citied state Forest Minister A K Saseendran as saying that the situation is very serious. Local Meteorological Department has predicted extremely heavy rain in the region on Tuesday.
The Kerala chief minister’s office said in a statement that the relief efforts are underway in the affected area. However, emergency officials said that the rescue efforts were hampered as there was no internet in the area.
