Landslide In Kerala's Munnar Area

Forest officials and other emergency services personnel reached the spot

credit : NDTV

New Delhi : Heavy rain and flooding has caused a landslide in Kerala's Idukki district. Officials say the landslide happened in the Rajmala area of the district, which is hard to reach.

Between 70 and 80 people lived in that area, officials said, adding they did not know, at this point, how many were trapped.

Forest officials and other emergency services personnel have reached the spot.

On Thursday heavy rains caused a temporary bridge in Idukki district to collapse, state authorities said.

A day before the IMD (India Meteorological Department) issued a red alert for the Idukki, Wayanad and Kozhikode districts.

The district also saw floods in low-lying areas like Munnar, a popular tourist destination, because of rising water levels of the Muthirapuzha River.

"Isolated extremely heavy falls is likely over Kerala and Mahe from August 5-9," the IMD tweeted on Wednesday.

Nature is showing the glimpse of what it can do and how we should respect it. 

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also tweeted that an NDRF team had been deployed, with a second team - based in nearby Thrissur - also on its way.

"An NDRF team has been deployed to rescue landslide victims in Rajamalai, Idukki. Police, Fire Force, Forest & Revenue officials have been instructed to join rescue efforts. Another team of NDRF, based in Thrissur, will soon reach Idukki," the Chief Minister said.

An NDRF team has been deployed to rescue the landslide victims in Rajamalai, Idukki.

Police, Fire Force, Forest & Revenue officials have been instructed to join the rescue efforts.

Another team of NDRF, based in Thrissur, will soon reach Idukki.#KeralaRains

— Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) August 7, 2020

Health Minister KK Shailaja has said that a mobile medical team and 15 ambulances have been sent to Idukki, with more ready to be sent if needed.

On Thursday heavy rains caused a temporary bridge in the district to collapse, state authorities said. The entire district was on red alert for likely extremely heavy rainfall today.