India Landslide Death Toll Rises to 10

Heavy rainfall has caused significant devastation, with the death toll rising to 10 people and more than 100 are feared to be buried in a landslide in India’s western state of Maharashtra after incessant rain soaked the region, officials said.

Officials said a landslide occurred overnight in the remote small village of Irchalwadi in the western state of Maharashtra, about 60 km from Mumbai.

State Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the state parliament that 10 bodies had been recovered and more than 80 rescued, but it was estimated that at least 225 people were living in the hamlet.

Initial reports had previously indicated fears that there might be about 100 people trapped in the aftermath of the collapse and that rescue teams were facing difficulties in heavy rain to find survivors 12 hours after the disaster.

A collapse occurred in a nearby village two years ago, killing more than 80 people.

An official at the Meteorological Authority said that more rain is expected on Thursday, but it will not be as heavy. A red alert was issued for the coast of Maharashtra state, as well as for Gujarat to the north, which also saw heavy rains this week.

The rains closed schools, flooded roads, and disrupted trains in Maharashtra and Gujarat.