Landslide death toll rises to 43 in India's southern Kerala state

NEW DELHI: The death toll in a landslide in India's southern state of Kerala rose to 43 on Sunday as 17 more bodies were recovered during the day, the state's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

The landslide occurred amid heavy rains in the state's Pettimudi hill top on Friday.

Many people were feared buried under the debris following the landslide. Rescue work has been going on in the area since the mishap took place amid inclement weather.

Despite inclement weather and harsh conditions, the search for the missing is ongoing by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire force, police, revenue and forest departments, the chief minister tweeted.

Local authorities have decided to take the help of sniffer dogs to trace the persons buried under the debris.