A massive landslide in Kerala killed 182 people and rescue operations continued, officials said, as hopes of finding more survivors were fading.
Nearly 200 people are still missing after the Mundakkai and Chooralmala areas of Wayanad district were flattened by thick mud and water on Tuesday.
Heavy rains in the area throughout the week hampered rescue operations.
The army is building a temporary bridge to Mundakkai across a swollen river to help stranded residents and search for more survivors.
Health officials reported 256 autopsies, including some of the body parts.
Wayanad remained on high alert on Thursday with more rainfall expected as schools and colleges were closed for the day.
This hilly region is famous for its cardamom plantations and tea estates and is home to several popular tourist attractions.
Officials said nearly 1,600 people have been rescued in affected villages and tea plantations. But still missing are migrant workers from the estate.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said more than 8,000 people have been moved to 82 relief camps set up in the district.
The army is currently building a temporary metal bridge to the village of Mundakkai, one of the villages worst affected by the landslide.
Earlier, rescuers built a makeshift pedestrian bridge and used ropes to loop across the river to reach the stranded people there and transfer the injured to hospitals.
But heavy rains and strong rivers have made it difficult to fully carry out rescue efforts.
The temporary metal bridge is expected to be completed Thursday evening. Major General Vinod Mathew told reporters it would allow ambulances and heavy machinery to move rubble and search for survivors.
Meanwhile, the Air Force is flying aircraft to locate survivors and distribute relief supplies.
Three Army sniffer dogs are expected to arrive in the disaster area to help search for people still trapped under the rubble.
“There is still a large area that needs to be explored and searched to determine if anyone is there,” senior police officer Ajith Kumar told AFP on Wednesday.
Television images showed harrowing scenes in rescue camps and hospitals as survivors searched for relatives or awaited news about them.
A man lists the names of those he says have still not been found manorama news“My house survived, but I lost many children like myself.”
At a community center where bodies are displayed for identification, a young man tell news minute He has identified two of his uncles but is still searching for seven other relatives.
He told the news website: “I am in contact with people at other centers where bodies are being placed and they are sending me pictures, but I have not yet identified other missing relatives.”
The government warned residents to prepare for flash flooding as more heavy rainfall is expected in the area.
