Landslide near Pune kills 10, scores feared trapped

Heavy rain triggered a landslide near Pune that killed at least 10 people and trapped up to 150 more, after thick mud came crashing down on thatch huts and brick houses on Wednesday, a disaster official said. Seven teams of 42 rescue workers each arrived at the disaster site, a village 60 km from the city of Pune, but rain, mud and poor communications hampered efforts, Sandeep Rai Rathore, inspector general of the national disaster force, told Reuters.

Only two residents had been rescued by Wednesday evening, he said. "The area is quite a difficult terrain," said Rathore, adding rescuers were trying to determine how many people were caught in the landslide. "The figure could be up to 150."