43 dead in torrential monsoon landslide

43 people including three children have died with several dozens more feared buried after torrential rains triggered a landslide in the southwestern Indian state of Kerala.

The Landslide swept tea plantation workers housing settlement in Idukki district late Thursday while the residents were sleeping.

The death toll could steadily rise as over 500 rescue workers from local forces and the National Disaster Response Force have been deployed and whose efforts were hampered by heavy rain spend the weekend digging through thick mud, boulders, and debris.

Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department issued a fresh warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in certain parts of the state for the next 24 hours.