24 killed in Wayanad disaster, hundreds feared trapped: A look at the worst landslides of India

The death toll is expected to rise in what can be described as one of the deadliest landslides this year has seen so far. The district was hit by three landslides in a matter of three hours, leaving a huge trail of destruction on its way
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The landslide in Kerala’s Wayanad on Tuesday killed 23 people and injured several others while search and rescue operations are underway with NDRF teams and Army choppers on the spot.

The death toll is expected to rise in what can be described as one of the deadliest landslides this year has seen so far. The district was hit by three landslides in a matter of three hours, leaving a huge trail of destruction on its way.

A landslide is the movement of rock, soil, and other debris down a slope due to gravity. This movement can be triggered by various factors such as heavy rainfall, earthquakes, volcanic activity, or human activities like construction and mining.

Tuesday’s accident brings back painful memories of landslides that India has seen in the past. Here’s a look at the worst landslides that have claimed many lives in the country:

• Kedarnath, Uttarakhand (2013): Probably the worst landslide that has gone down in history for being the most devastating is the Kedarnath landslide which was triggered by several cloudbursts causing torrential rains and massive floods in June 2013. The landslides killed over 5,000 people and caused massive destruction, taking it years to rebuild the hilly region that houses an important Hindu shrine

• Malin, Maharashtra (2014): The state of Maharashtra is not new to heavy rainfall but in 2014 incessant downpour triggered a landslide that killed over 151 people. The landslide caused the entire village of Malin to be buried under a thick layer of mud and debris, destroying more than 40 homes in the area

• Manipur (2022): The northeastern state of Manipur experienced landslides two years ago, killing over 40 people and injuring several others. Heavy monsoon rains triggered landslides across the state including the capital city of Imphal and other neighbouring regions

• Shillong, Meghalaya (2011): Also triggered by heavy monsoon downpours that caused soil erosion in the region, Shillong was hit by a landslide in 2011 leading to the collapse of a section of a hill. It killed over 20 people and injured several others

• Kottayam, Kerala (2019): Kerala, which is prone to landslides, saw one in 2019 that was triggered by heavy rains and soil erosions. The accident killed at least 15, leaving several others injured

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