27 Killed, Many Still Missing in Deadly India Landslide

India – The death toll due to a huge landslide in the Indian state of Maharashtra jumped to 27 people on Sunday. Then, at least 50 people still missing when the rescue team fought in the heavy rain. 

The landslide was caused by monsoon rains on Thursday and hit a village in Raigad district - a 
hilly and forested site about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Mumbai. Because of it, the emergency team has dug the bodies under mounds of earth and debris. 

"We've so far counted 27 bodies, and about 50 to 60 people are still missing, but there are multiple challenges for rescue work at the site," Raigad official, Yogesh Mhase said on Sunday. 

"The hilltop location and tough terrain were hindering efforts,"

He also said: "We are facing the huge challenge of not being able to carry heavy equipment, which is why everything is being done manually. Rescuers were mostly using rods and shovels," Pramod Kumar Singh of the National Disaster Response Force (NDFR). 

From the base of the hill, it takes about 90 minutes to reach Irshalwadi by foot. Rainfall and a threat of more landslides caused the rescue operation to be suspended during the night, the rescue agency said. 

The dead included four children, the Press Trust of India news agency said, adding that 75 people have been rescued. Four people have been hospitalised. 

As information, India has been hit by rains since the start of the monsoon in June, and floods and landslides have killed many people. 

Monsoon rains are essential for replenishing rivers and groundwater, but floods also cause widespread damage each year. 

Experts say that climate change is increasing the number of extreme weather events worldwide, with damming, deforestation, and development projects in India exacerbating the death toll.