The massive landslide that occurred in Kerala's Idukki on Friday pushed the death toll to 42 after 16 more bodies were found from the debris by Sunday noon.

According to officials, 78 people were staying at the spot where the tragedy occurred. While 12 were rescued, 42 bodies were found. The landslide has destroyed over 20 houses of the tea estate workers. NDRF chief in charge of Kerala, Rekha Nambiar is leading a 55-member team for the search and rescue mission and is trying to find all the missing persons.

The news agency PTI quoted officials as saying, "Three days after the settlements were swept away by devastating landslides at Pettimudi near Rajamala, authorities have now decided to take help of sniffer dogs to trace the persons buried under the debris".

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Idukki, Malappuram and Wayanaddistricts on Sunday.