Emergency workers on Thursday were scrambling to rescue nearly 50 people trapped under rubble after a landslide in western <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/india/" target="_blank">India</a> killed at least sixteen people. Heavy rain triggered the landslide at about 11pm on Wednesday in Raigad, Maharashtra, hitting at least 40 houses in the hilly area, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said. Emergency workers were deployed to Irshalwadi village in the Khalapur area to rescue those trapped and 75 people were evacuated, he said. But more heavy rain hampered the relief effort. The district has had heavy rain for the past two days. Rescue workers recovered 16 bodies before night fell and local authorities advised they suspend the search, Director General of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Atul Karwal, told <i>Reuters.</i> "It is not possible to look for people in the dark in such terrain," he said, adding he remained hopeful more could be found alive. It was estimated that at least 225 people lived in the hamlet, Mr Fadnavis told the state assembly, adding over 80 had managed to escape. More than 100 people were feared trapped in the debris. Home Minister Amit Shah said that four National Disaster Response Force teams were sent to the spot to carry out rescue operations. “Our priority is to evacuate people from there and give immediate treatment to the injured,” he said. Images on social media showed houses completely destroyed while massive trees had been uprooted. Those injured were taken to hospital for treatment. Torrential rain has hit at least 10 districts in the state. The India Meteorological Department issued an alert for “heavy to very heavy” rainfall in several districts on Thursday. In India's largest city, Mumbai, authorities closed down schools amid rainfall warnings. At least eight other districts will continue to face heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds until the weekend, the IMD said.