At least nine people have been killed in flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains in the southern Indian state of Kerala, officials said on Sunday. Over a dozen others went missing as scores of houses were swept away in the districts of Kottayam and Idukki following flooding and landslides on Saturday. Indian armed forces personnel have been carrying out rescue operations, alongside the National Disaster Response Force and the local police, since Saturday afternoon. "So far, nine bodies have been recovered from under the debris but some 12 people are still missing," a state government official told the local media. "Inclement weather is hampering rescue operations in some areas," the official said. Kerala's Chief Minister Pinayari Vijayan held a high-level meeting on Saturday and asked officials of the two districts to ensure that all the displaced were shifted to camps. Also read: At least 1 dead, 10 missing in landslide near Mexico City "Masks, sanitisers, drinking water, medicines should be made available in camps," local media quoted the Chief Minister as telling the officials. India's main opposition Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is a lawmaker from the state of Kerala, took to social media to condole the deaths. "My thoughts are with the people of Kerala. Please stay safe and follow all safety precautions," he tweeted. READ: Mexico City metro overpass collapses onto road; 20 dead Kerala and the western Indian state of Maharashtra have witnessed the heaviest monsoon rains this year. In Maharashtra, over 100 people died in landslides in July. In August 2018, over 400 people died in Kerala in what was touted as the state's worst flooding in a century.

At least 36 people have been killed in landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, officials said on Friday. All the deaths occurred in three landslides in the state's Raigad district, some 70 kms from capital Mumbai, on Thursday, where several houses were swept away following heavy rains and consequent flooding. "While 32 people died in Taliye village, four people were killed in Mahad city. Rescue operations are still on," Raigad district collector Nidhi Chaudhary told the media. In the neighbouring rain-hit Satara district, some 22 people are feared trapped at two different locations. "Choppers have been pressed into action to ferry people to safer locations," Satara's police chief Ajay Kumar Bansal said. Read: 2 Rohingyas killed in landslide at Rohingya camps Local TV channels beamed footage of live rescue operations in both the districts. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to offer condolences to the families of the deceased. "Anguished by the loss of lives due to a landslide in Raigad, Maharashtra. My condolences to the bereaved families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery." "The situation in Maharashtra due to heavy rains is being closely monitored and assistance is being provided to the affected," the PM added. Maharashtra is experiencing the heaviest July rains in four decades. Read: Indonesia landslides death toll rises to 126, dozens missing Barely five-six days back, some 30 people were killed in house collapses triggered by heavy monsoon rains in Mumbai. The deaths occurred in the hilly Chembur area, a suburb, and in the neighbouring Vikhroli area. The Indian PM then announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased. Building collapses are common in India, particularly during the monsoon months of June, July and August. Poor construction quality is often blamed for such collapses.