New Delhi, July 7: At least three people were killed, and five others remained missing after a rain-triggered “man-made” landslide at a tunnel project in Kerala’s Wayanad on Tuesday, while normal life was disrupted in Maharashtra and Gujarat as well — where heavy monsoon rain has led to deadly incidents over the past two days.
Parts of southern Gujarat received “extremely heavy” rainfall, with the worst-affected being Surat district, where five persons died in rain-related incidents in two days. Over 2,100 people were shifted from flooded areas to safe locations, officials said.
Two minor boys drowned, while two women suffered injuries as cement sheets collapsed at a Mumbai garden during heavy rains and winds. A landslide in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district buried five houses; one woman was rescued, and efforts were underway to save two others.
In eastern India, Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh experienced heavy rainfall, a landslide and flooding, while Upper Subansiri recorded two flood incidents and three landslides, and Upper Siang witnessing 16 landslides over 24 hours beginning from Monday evening, according to officials.
A rockfall incident due to incessant rain was also reported from East Kameng in the state.
Rain lashed several northern states, as well as the national capital, which was largely seen as a respite from the heat even as incidents of waterlogging were reported from a number of areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of increased rainfall activity over north India in the next three days.
*** Deaths, disruption in western, southern India ***
At least three people were killed, 10 injured, and five remained missing after a rain-soaked mound of excavated earth gave way at the site of a multi-crore tunnel project in Meppadi panchayat in this hill district, with two state ministers describing the landslide as “man-made”.
A video clip showed the mound of mud, which had accumulated near Meenakshi Bridge, suddenly collapsing in the rain, bringing down trees and sweeping away the metal and cloth barricades set up near the tunnel construction site.
In a statement, the district administration said a total of 18 persons were affected by the disaster. A senior government official told reporters that there were no workers at the site and that those feared trapped under the mud were engineers and security staff.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan said necessary rescue forces were reaching the area and that police as well as fire and rescue personnel had already been deployed at the site.
Additionally, a defence team was on standby in Thrissur and could be deployed at the site if required, he said.
Rains eased in Mumbai after two days of relentless downpour, even as the death toll due to flood-related incidents in the neighbouring Palghar district over the last week reached 10, officials said.
Incessant rains also triggered a major landslide in the coastal Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, burying five houses. The incident occurred in the Dahivali area of Khed tehsil on Monday night, following which a 75-year-old woman was rescued, officials said. Efforts were underway to rescue two more persons, they said.
Thousands of ‘warkari’ pilgrims on their way to the temple town of Pandharpur were advised to avoid travelling through Alandi in Pune district due to a severe flood situation.
Two boys drowned, while two women suffered injuries as cement sheets collapsed in a garden in Mumbai’s Andheri area during heavy rains and winds in the last 24 hours, officials said.
Across the city, 428 incidents of trees and branches crashing down and 28 complaints of wall and house collapse were reported, indicating the intensity of Monday’s downpour. (PTI)
