Landslides in India's Kerala kill at least 19, 100s feared trapped

At least 19 people have been killed after multiple landslides in the hills of India's southern state of Kerala, local media reported, with heavy rain and poor internet connectivity hampering rescue efforts.

Hundreds of people are likely to be trapped and as many 19 people have died, including a child, the Indian Express newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Television visuals showed water gushing through rocks and fallen trees, with many houses destroyed.

"The situation is serious. The government has pressed all agencies into rescue," state Forest Minister A K Saseendran told Reuters news agency.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast extremely heavy rain in the state on Tuesday.

Relief efforts are ongoing, and two helicopters of the Indian Air Force have been mobilised, the Kerala chief minister's office said in a statement.

Rescue efforts were hampered as there was no internet connectivity in the area, Mohsen Shahedi, a senior National Disaster Response Force officer said.

India regularly has severe floods during the monsoon season, which runs between June and September and brings most of South Asia’s annual rainfall.

The rains are crucial for rain-fed crops planted during the season but often cause extensive damage.

Scientists say monsoons are becoming more erratic because of climate crisis and global heating.