Many people have died and hundreds are missing after a landslide in the Indian state of Kerala

At least 40 bodies were recovered and several people were reportedly missing after massive landslides struck the hilly areas near Meppadi in Kerala’s Wayanad district on Tuesday morning. 

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has mobilized Fireforce and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to the affected area where hundreds are suspected to be trapped.

 The incident could have occurred due to heavy rains that hit India. There is no exact information on the number of victims, but it is reported that hundreds of people may be under the rubble.

Search and rescue operations are currently underway. Two Indian Air Force helicopters and two battalions of the Indian Army Military Security Corps flew to the scene of the tragedy, The Indian Express writes.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.

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