Landslides caused by heavy rainfall over the past few days in the Ooty mountain ranges have flattened several hamlets near Coonoor,said officials on Tuesday. They added that 28 deaths were reported on Tuesday,including seven of a family,taking the death toll due to monsoon-related incidents in the Nilgiris district to 42. This number,however,is likely to cross 50 as rescue workers were still sifting through the sludge,the officials said,adding that the district administration has moved people from the vulnerable parts to safer places to prevent more deaths. Tourists have been asked to defer their plans to visit the scenic mountains till rain subsides,as many of the roads have been cut off or damaged by heavy rain and landslides. Rainfall on the steep valley side in Achakkal and nearby hamlets led to a landslide on Monday,said an official,adding that the raging mud took a house nearly half-a-km downhill. Louis,55,a bus driver,his wife,Charly,their daughters,son-in-law and grandchildren,seven in all,were buried under the debris. Two from the family were rescued. So far,about 200 landslides have been reported in various parts of the Nilgiris,including many at Kethi village near Coonoor. We have already moved 600 people from vulnerable spots to the 10 camps we are running, said District Collector Anandrao Vishnu Patil. The rescue efforts overnight saved over 50 people trapped under the debris,Patil said. In Chennai,CM M Karunanidhi chaired a meeting of ministers and officials to take stock of the situation on Tuesday,and announced Rs 1 lakh for the family of the deceased in the Nilgiris incidents.
