Kerala's Wayanad landslides: Death toll rises to 151, search on for missing

Heavy rain in one of India's most attractive tourist destinations collapsed hillsides early on Tuesday sending torrents of mud, water and tumbling boulders through tea and cardamom estates and small settlements. It was the worst disaster in the state since deadly floods in 2018.

spokesman, P.M. Manoj, told Reuters by phone.

The Indian Army said it rescued 1,000 people and has begun the process to construct an alternate bridge after the main bridge linking the affected area to the nearest town of Chooralmala was destroyed.

"The landslides happened at the top and then affected the lower valley areas where people were staying. Focus right now is to search the entire uphill area for stranded people and recover as many bodies (as possible)," M R Ajith Kumar, a state law and order official, told Reuters.

--Reuters