At least 21 people were killed in a series of landslides triggered by incessant rains in India's north-eastern state of Assam on Tuesday, officials said.

Several villagers were injured in the landslides that were reported from districts in the Barak valley region.

Rescue teams had been rushed to affected areas, officials manning the disaster control room in the regional capital Guwahati said.

Among those dead are seven people in Cachar district and six in Karimganj district. Eight more were killed in the Hailakandi district, regional official Rupjoy Maibanbsa said.

‘The region has seen heavy pre-monsoon rains since last week which loosened earth and dislodged boulders on hills causing landslides onto thatched village homes. Rescue work is going on. Seven villagers are injured,’ Maibanbsa said over the telephone.

Assam has already been hit by floods which have affected nearly 200,000 people. Six people have died and over 340 villages were inundated, domestic reports said.

Assam is among the states that are worst-hit by seasonal monsoon rains in India. The monsoon is expected to arrive in the region by June 10, according to the weather bureau.