Indian soldiers were today trying to complete the metal bridge construction to reconnect the areas most affected by the landslides in Keralawhile the search for survivors continues as well as efforts to recover bodies after the disaster that claimed the lives of at least 182 people.

Heavy rains in the southern state of Kerala, one of its most popular tourist destinations of Indiacaused hillsides to collapse early Tuesday and torrents of mud, water and rocks to sweep away tea plantations and small settlements.

Army engineers were trying to build a 58-meter-long bridge to transport heavy equipment from the nearest town of Tsuralmala to the affected district of Mundakai, as the waters of a local river washed away a makeshift bridge yesterday. The main bridge collapsed due to landslides on Tuesday.

According to rescue officials and local residents, all those trapped in places such as tea plantations have been rescued.

Authorities say they do not expect to find any more survivors and efforts are now focused on collecting the dead.

The disaster was the worst in Kerala since the deadly floods of 2018. Experts said the region had experienced heavy rains in the past two weeks that had softened the ground before Monday’s extreme rains that triggered the landslides.

According to the authorities, 182 bodies have been recovered while 206 people are still missing. The local Asianet television station reported 281 dead.

Nearly 1,600 people have been rescued in the past two days, according to authorities, while nearly 350 buildings have been damaged.

The death toll is expected to rise further once the construction of the metal bridge is completed and authorities will be able to speed up investigations.