CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Sunday assured support to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan on rescue efforts following a massive landslide that killed at least 42 people in the neighbouring state.

"I spoke to Hon @CMOKerala today morning about the tragic loss of lives and damages caused due to heavy rain and landslides at Munnar.

I promised to provide necessary support in rescue and relief operations," Palaniswami said on his twitter handle.

The toll in the landslide that levelled a row of 20 houses of tea estate workers in Idukki district of Kerala, rose to 42 on Sunday with the retrieval of 16 more bodies from the rubble.

The workers, mostly Tamils, have been working in the estates for several decades.