Triggered by two days of continuous rain, a landslide occurred on Wednesday near the city of Pune, trapping up to 200 people and either burying or washing away almost the entire village of Malin, according to a BBC report.
The number of deaths differs by report, but it is estimated to be anywhere from 30 to 50 deaths. Sky News reported that “more than 40 houses lie buried under almost 15 feet of debris.” Rescue teams have been putting in their best efforts to rescue as many as they can. So far, 10 have been rescued, according to BBC.
Despite efforts, continuous bad weather have been hindering rescue teams. “As we remove the mud from one place, more is flowing in since the rains have been incessant,” said Pravin Sadhale from the state’s Emergency Medical Services.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sadness for the lives that have been lost in a recent tweet. He also stated that Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be traveling to Pune to “take stock of the situation.”
Many parts of India commonly face landslides during rainy seasons, which usually last from June to September.
