CHENNAI, Nov 10 (AFP) - Heavy rain in southern India triggered flash floods and landslides that killed 41 people in the last 24 hours, police said Tuesday.

More than 70 deaths have been recorded across several districts in the state of Tamil Nadu in the last week, where downpours have caused widespread damage to buildings and ruined crops.

The hillside district of Nilgiris, about 450 kilometres (280 miles) west of the state capital Chennai, is estimated to have received up to 61 centimetres (24 inches) of rain over two days, police said.

One village there was destroyed.

"The toll is 71 as of now. Nilgiris bore the brunt of the rain and 38 lives have been lost there in the last two days," an officer in the local police control room told AFP, referring to deaths overnight and on Monday.

Another three were killed overnight in more southern districts of Tamil Nadu.

Rescue efforts were underway to help those trapped in debris, and authorities said most deaths were due to walls collapsing, drowning or electrocution.

Schools were closed in several districts and forecasters predicted more rain over the next 24 hours.