It has been revealed that fifteen persons were killed and over 50 were trapped under the debris after a landslide caused by by heavy rains flattened a row of dwelling units of tea estate workers at Pettimudi in Kerala yesterday.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that 15 people who got trapped in the debris were rescued, and that the state government had ls appointed a special officer to coordinate relief operations. The incident happened after a huge mound of earth fell on houses.

Among the deceased were two children and five women and majority of whom were plantation workers from Tamil Nadu. Despite rains, efforts are underway to rescue the missing people. CM Pinarayi Vijayan announced an initial solatium of Rs 5 lakh each for the relatives of the dead. The PM’s Office tweeted that an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund would be given to the next of kin of those killed in the landslide.