New Delhi - The entire population of three hamlets was feared killed in a landslide in the northern Indian hill state of Uttarakhand, the police said Sunday.

"We have so far recovered 19 bodies, at least 26 people are still buried in the debris," an official at the police control room in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district said by telephone.

He said it was unlikely that there were any survivors.

Heavy rains triggered the landslide in the Himalayan region about 450 kilometres west of Uttarakhand capital Dehradun on Saturday.

The entire population of three hamlets - La, Jhegla and Lelu Nehar - was feared killed as the rubble buried their homes.

Rescue operations were continuing with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police assisting local authorities and police. Medical teams had reached the villages.

Rescue workers were digging through rocks and rubble with heavy hammers and shovels, the police official said.

Roads to the villages had been cut off by the landslides making rescue operations difficult.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal announced compensation of 100,000 rupees (about 2097 dollars) each for the families of those killed.

Widespread deforestation in India's mountain regions have made them prone to landslides during the rainy season.

The three hamlets affected by the landslide were situated at an altitude of 1,820 metres near the border with Nepal.(dpa)