Nearly 1,000 people have been rescued after landslides hit hills in the Indian state of Kerala. as the authorities said today, where at least 166 people lost their lives and many more are still missing.

Heavy rains in one of India’s attractive tourist destinations caused hillsides to collapse early yesterday and torrents of mud, water and rocks swept across tea plantations and small settlements. It was the worst disaster in the state since the deadly floods of 2018.

At least 166 people have been killed, 195 injured and 225 are still missing, local authorities said today. According to local TV station Asianet News, the death toll is 179.

The Indian Army said it had rescued 1,000 people and started the process of building an alternative bridge after the destruction of the main bridge connecting the worst-hit area of ​​Mundakai to the nearest town of Churalmala.

Near where the bridge was swept away, a large excavator was slowly moving trees and boulders. Members of the rescue teams, wearing waterproofs, made their way slowly through the mud and rocks. “We are pretty sure there are many bodies here,” said Hamsa TA, a rescue team member. “There were many houses here, the people who lived here are missing.”

The landslides occurred at the highest point of these slopes and then reached the valley at the base of the hills, M.R. told Reuters. Ajit Kumar, a senior state police officer.

“The emphasis right now is on searching the entire area for those trapped and recovering (as possible) as many bodies,” he added.