New Delhi  - More bodies of workers were recovered from the rubble of an industrial chimney that collapsed in India's central state of Chhattisgarh, bringing the death toll to 40, officials said Saturday.

The toll could rise since dozens of workers were feared trapped under the debris of the 100-metre chimney that crashed Wednesday, at the Bharat Aluminium Company plant in the Korba town, 250 kilometres north of state capital Raipur.

"We have found 39 bodies from the site so far. One of the eight people hospitalized succumbed to injuries Saturday morning," local police officer Vivek Sharma who was supervising rescue operations said over phone from Korba.

The search for survivors entered its fourth day on Saturday.

More workers were feared trapped under the debris, he said. It was not known how many working when the chimney caved in after heavy rains and lighting.

"Some 70 per cent of the rubble has been cleared and it could take until Monday to complete the operations," Sharma said.

The Chhattisgarh government launched an investigation into whether the builders had failed to comply with safety regulations.

Police has also registered a case against the company management and had deployed additional security to contain workers' anger and prevent violence. (dpa)