At least 17 people have died and over a dozen others have gone missing in a massive landslide that swept away several houses in Dhansingh VDC of the western district of Kaski Friday night.

Chief District Officer of Kaski Badri Nath Ghimire told Nepalnews Saturday afternoon that 17 dead bodies of people missing in the landslide that struck Nepane village have been recovered so far while the whereabouts of 13 others of seven houses are yet to traced.

Incessant rainfall in the area caused the landslide.

According to Ghimire, rescue teams comprising local people, Maoist cadres, political activists and security personnel from Kaski and neighboring Parbat district have been carrying out rescue works.