The aftermath of a deadly landslide in Sri Lanka has pitted victims' families against disaster-management authorities, The Associated Press reported.

Villagers in the Badulla district defied orders to end a search through mud and wreckage, which the country's disaster management ministry had called off, saying there was no possibility of finding survivors.

Rescue operations were "temporarily halted" during the night from Wednesday to Thursday because of poor weather conditions and the risk of additional mudslides, ColomboPage said. According to the local news service, the efforts were scheduled to resume Thursday morning, however.

Local citizens also dispute the number of the lost, insisting it may be more than twice the official estimate. Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera had the death toll at fewer than 100, though a subordinate body, the Disaster Management Center, had said up to 190 were missing.

The government agency said the mudslide in Badulla, about 140 miles east of the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, was the result of heavy monsoon rains and destroyed 120 tea workers' homes.

A local government official told AP that up to 250 people may have been buried, basing his estimates on the number of people typically in the area.

"There were many houses, a big Hindu temple, a playground and two milk collection centers where farmers bring their milk for selling," the news agency detailed.

A 48-year-old truck driver, Raja, lost all five members of his household, including his wife, sons and grandchild.

"I left for work early morning and got a call asking me to rush back because there was an earth slip near my home," he said. "I came back and there was no trace of my home, everyone was buried."

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa offered his "deep condolences" and ordered officials to provide immediate relief to the landslide victims, ColomboPage reported.

"On instructions of the president ... heavy (military) machinery (has) been deployed to speed up search and rescue operations in the area," the service added.

Neighboring country India, meanwhile, has offered Sri Lanka assistance in the search and rescue operations, according to ColomboPage.

Related