India on Thursday offered to provide assistance to Sri Lanka to deal with a landslide in which some 200 people are feared to have been buried alive.

External Affairs Minister Suishma Swaraj conveyed her condolences to Sri Lanka counterpart G L Peiris on the loss of lives, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.

The landslide that struck Wednesday was triggered by heavy rains and wiped out the homes of 120 workers at the Meeriabedda tea estate in central Badulla district.

Sri Lanka's army has deployed a contingent of over 500 troops from the Security Forces Headquarters to undertake rescue operations.
 
Sri Lankan Air Force troops, policemen, health and civil relief teams are also currently engaged in the operations. (Bernama)