At least 63 killed, dozens trapped after landslides hit India's Kerala

#India

#NDRF

1

#Kerala

Landslides triggered by relentless monsoon rains have struck tea plantations in the southern Kerala state and killed at least 63 people, with at least 250 others rescued from mud and debris, officials said.

The landslides hit near Meppadi in the district of Wayanad at about 2am on Tuesday (20:30 GMT on Monday), cutting off at least four villages, and rescue efforts were hampered by blocked roads in the disaster area.

Wayanad is famed for the tea estates crisscrossing its hilly countryside which rely on a large pool of casual labourers for planting and harvest. Local media reported that most of the victims were tea estate workers.