On Wednesday morning, rescuers started searching for individuals buried beneath debris. The previous day, landslides in Kerala state's Wayanad district had left at least 151 people dead and numerous others missing.

The deadliest tragedy to hit the state since fatal floods in 2018 occurred when heavy rain caused slopes in one of India's most popular tourist spots to crumble and torrents of mud, water, and falling boulders to startle.

Most of the 350 families living in the area surrounded by tea and cardamom estates were caught unaware by the landslides early on Tuesday morning.

At least 151 people died and 187 were still missing, the state chief minister's spokesman, P.M. Manoj.

Television visuals showed many houses destroyed and trees uprooted, as rescuers were pulled by ropes across muddy streams of water.

The government was considering making a portable, pre-fabricated Bailey bridge to connect the affected area, after the main bridge to the nearest town of Chooralmala was destroyed, K Rajan, the state revenue minister told Asianet TV.

After a day of extremely heavy rainfall that hampered rescue operations, the weather department expects some respite on Wednesday, although the area is likely to receive rain through the day.