At least 20 people have been confirmed dead after a landslide buried around 40 houses in the village of Malin, near Pune, Maharashtra. The disaster trapped up to 200 people under tonnes of earth, rocks, and mud. Emergency teams have managed to rescue 10 individuals so far, but the rescue efforts are being hindered by bad weather and challenging hilly terrain.
The landslide occurred early in the morning while people were asleep, and it wasn't until several hours later that the alarm was raised. A local bus driver discovered that Malin and the road leading to it were completely covered. The entire village, except for the school, has been buried.
This region of India, known for frequent landslides during the monsoon season, has been receiving heavy rainfall for the past few days. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has faced difficulty reaching the site due to the narrow, single-lane road and continued rainfall.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the loss of lives and sent Home Minister Rajnath Singh to assess the situation. Rescuers are working against time, with dwindling hope of finding more survivors. The total number of casualties is still unknown as rescue teams continue to work cautiously through the debris.