According to an official, hundreds of rescuers have found 27 dead bodies as they continued their fourth day of searching for numerous individuals still unaccounted for after heavy monsoon rains caused a large landslide in a village in western India.
Since the landslide struck Irshalwadi hamlet on Wednesday night (July 19) in Raigadh district, roughly 80km (50 miles) from Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, 78 people remain missing, as reported by Aljazeera.
According to officials, at least 17 of the village's 48 homes were completely or partially buried by the rubble. The difficult terrain and elevated location made progress difficult.
Irshalwadi can be reached on foot in around 90 minutes from the hill's base. The rescue effort was put on hold during the night due to rain and the potential for additional landslides, according to the rescue organization.
According to The Associated Press, there were four children among the deceased, and 75 people had been saved. Hospitalized are four persons.
Due to the state's recent deluge of rain, Maharashtra was put on alert by India's weather service. Water flooding inside stations and over tracks caused several locations to disrupt local rail service, according to the media.
More than 100 people have died in northern India over the past three weeks as a result of record monsoon rains, according to officials. The downpours caused homes and roadways to collapse.
The monsoon season, which lasts from June to September and produces most of South Asia's yearly rainfall, frequently causes devastating floods in India. Rainfed crops grown throughout the season depend on the rains, although they frequently sustain significant damage.
Read also: Nepal Earthquake: Thousands Flee After Landslide Blocks River (VIDEO)
Climate Change and Monsoons
According to scientists, the monsoons are getting more unpredictable as a result of climate change, which frequently causes landslides and flash floods in the Himalayan north of India.
Climate change is already significantly impacting the monsoons, making them more severe and unpredictable. This is devastatingly impacting people and communities across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Africa.
One of the most immediate effects of climate change on the monsoons is an increase in rainfall. This can lead to flooding, landslides, and other natural disasters.
In 2017, for example, monsoon rains caused widespread flooding in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, killing over 1,000 people and displacing millions more.
In addition to increasing rainfall, climate change is also erratic the monsoons. This means there is less predictability about when and where the rains will fall, making it difficult for farmers to plan their crops and for governments to prepare for natural disasters.
The severity of monsoons due to climate change is a serious threat to people and communities across the globe. It is important to take action to mitigate climate change and adapt to the changes already happening.
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