In India, landslides caused by monsoon rains on tea plantations killed at least 93 people on Tuesday, with at least 250 more rescued from mud and debris, officials said.

Southern Kerala state, on the ocean coast, has been lashed by torrential rains, and relief efforts have been hampered by blocked roads to the disaster zone in Wayanad district.

„So far 93 bodies of the dead have been recovered,– Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters. This is one of the worst natural disasters our state has ever experienced.“

Dar 128 rescued people have been hospitalised, he said.

„My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones and I am praying for the injured“," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a message posted on social networking site „X“.

Vayanad is famous for the tea plantations that stretch across its hilly areas, where large numbers of daily wage labourers are employed in the planting and harvesting of the crop.

Two landslides occurred in succession in several of the district's estates before dawn, while most of the inhabitants were asleep.

Videos released by the National Disaster Response Force show rescue teams trudging through the mud to find survivors and carrying bodies out of the area on stretchers.

The landslide with great force covered the surrounding houses with mud, displaced cars and turned everything into rubble.

India's army said it has sent more than 200 troops to the area to help state security forces and firefighting teams with search and rescue efforts.

Kerala State Excise Minister M.B. Rajesh said more than 250 people have been rescued so far, reported the newspaper „The Hindu“.

N. Modi's office said the families of the victims would be paid compensation of USD 2 400 (Rs 200 000).

Recurring rainfall and strong winds are forecast to continue in Kerala on Tuesday, the state disaster management agency said.