UPDATES DEATH TOLL; ADDS DETAILS; CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE; REVISES DECK; EDITS THROUGH
By Ahmad Adil
NEW DELHI (AA) - At least 40 people were killed in massive landslides in India's southern Kerala state, officials said on Tuesday.
A massive search operation is underway in the Wayanad district of Kerala, where hundreds of people are feared to be trapped.
The landslides took place in the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.
An official at the Kerala chief minister’s office told Anadolu that about 40 people were reported to have died in the massive landslide.
The Indian army and air force personnel have been deployed to rescue the people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened by the landslides in parts of Wayanad.
“Rescue ops are currently underway to assist all those affected,” he added.
Modi said he spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and also assured all “possible help from the centre in the wake of the prevailing situation there."
Vijayan’s office said on Tuesday morning that the chief minister had given directions to coordinate the rescue operations in Wayanad promptly following the “devastating landslide.”
The landslide came as the state has been witnessing heavy monsoon rains.