Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site of landslides in Kerala on Saturday, where over 200 people perished last month. He pledged to provide 'every possible support' to those who lost their homes and loved ones. Heavy monsoon rains hit the southern coastal state of Kerala on July 30, causing landslides that buried homes and people in Wayanad district under tons of rock and soil.
The frequency of fatal floods and landslides in India has risen in recent years, with experts attributing this to climate change. Wayanad is famous for its tea estates that span its hilly terrain and depend on a large workforce for planting and harvesting. Many landslide victims were workers and their families, who were asleep in brick-walled row houses when they were overwhelmed by a torrent of brown sludge.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, a former MP for Wayanad, praised Modi's visit as 'a good decision' and urged him to declare a national disaster. Modi also visited recovery camps and hospitals for those affected by the landslides. 'Our prayers are with those affected,' Modi stated. 'I want to assure the families of the deceased that they are not alone,' he added, promising funds for relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Monsoon rains from June to September provide relief from summer heat and are vital for agriculture and water supply replenishment, but they also frequently cause destruction.
