NEW DELHI, July 7 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and seven others went missing on Tuesday after a massive landslide triggered by heavy rains hit India's southern state of Kerala, officials said.
Seven people injured in the accident have been hospitalized.
The landslide occurred near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi in Wayanad district. According to the officials, the landslide hit close to the site of the ongoing Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel road project connecting Malappuram and Wayanad districts.
Immediately after the incident, rescue operations were launched, with local residents also stepping in to help and pull people to safety. Personnel from the police and Fire and Rescue Services rushed to the location, while National Disaster Response Force teams also joined the rescue operations.
Authorities said the area recorded 265 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, with incessant rain believed to have triggered the landslide.
The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for Kerala's Wayanad district on Tuesday after Mananthavady and Vythiri recorded heavy rainfall. A red alert was also declared in neighboring Kozhikode district, while Malappuram, Kannur and Kasaragod were placed under orange alert.
The weather department defines a red alert as extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 204 mm in 24 hours, while an orange alert denotes rainfall between 115 mm and 204 mm.
Wayanad is prone to landslides, especially during the monsoon season. In 2024, a massive landslide struck Wayanad, killing 298 people as per government data. ■