Landslides hit Himalayan states

The floods have been especially damaging in western Nepal

Torrential rains have caused massive landslides and floods in the Himalayan states of Nepal and Bhutan.

The death toll from flooding and landslides in mid and western Nepal has risen to 45, officials say.

Thousands more have been displaced by the heavy late monsoon rains, predicted to continue until the weekend.

In Bhutan, major rivers have swelled, flights have been cancelled, landslides have blocked national highways and a major hydro-power plant has been shut.

Marooned

Officials in Nepal say at least 12 more deaths have been reported from the western districts on Thursday.

The army and police force have been helping with relief efforts and the cabinet has decided to provide a relief package for those affected.

A swollen Karnali river has marooned around 500 residents of Kailali's Dhanasinghapur and Narayanpur areas, the Himalayan Times website reported

It said that members of some 100 households have been marooned.

Officials said relief was yet to reach some people stranded by landslides because of a lack of helicopters.

Most of the deaths have taken place in the western districts of Dadeldhura and Achham.

Meanwhile, reports say Bhutan has but hit by the heaviest rainfall in 13 years.

The rains, which started on Tuesday evening, have hit all 20 districts, according to the Kuensel newspaper website.

Heaviest showers have been reported in southern Bhutan, followed by western Bhutan, it said.

The monsoon season in Bhutan is from 1 July to 30 September and officials say this kind of heavy rain at this time of the year is "abnormal and unexpected".