Pune: Over forty houses in a village in Pune district were buried in a landslide trigged by heavy rains on Wednesday. Around 10 dead bodies have been taken out from the debris, confirmed reports.

Divisional Commissioner Prabhakar Deshmukh has feared that around 167 more people could still be trapped inside.

Malin village in Ambegaon taluk of the district was hit by the landslide after two lakes in the region overflowed today morning.

The administration has issued helpline numbers to provide latest information about the incident. The helpline number is – 020-26120720

Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) comprising of 300 personnel will reach the spot in a while. The Maharashtra government has also summoned the army personnel to speed up the rescue operations.

According to District Collector Saurav Rao, the administration has mobilised rescue machinery to pull out those trapped.

“Exact number of causalities is not known as we are moving slowly to ensure that those trapped are removed safely. About 30 ambulances have been rushed from adjoining areas to extend medical help to the victims,” he said, adding earth moving equipment from government and private parties were being pressed into service.

Communication difficulties and rains were affecting the operations, he said.

State’s Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Patangrao Kadam said rescue operations were going on in full swing in coordination with various government agencies.

Pune Divisional Commissioner Prabhakar Deshmukh is coordinating the relief work, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Dilip Walse Patil said.

“The Pune district collector and SP have reached the spot. The divisional commissioner is coordinating the relief work,” Walse Patil, who represents the affected region in the state Assembly, said.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar have rushed to the village.

“The incident of landslide took place today morning in the Malin village of Ambegaon tehsil. The population of this village is around 715. 44 houses were destroyed and around 160 people are trapped under the debris. Officials and ministers are on the spot and monitoring the situation. I along with Deputy CM Ajit Pawar will be going to the place in a while. NDRF teams and doctors have been dispatched,” the Chief Minister said.