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Tuesday, 7 August 2007, 06:37 GMT 07:37 UK

South Asia flood death toll rises

Bangladeshis using rafts to escape from Dhaka More than 360 people are now thought to have died in the flooding in India and Bangladesh caused by monsoon rains.

Some 14 million people have been displaced in India alone and clashes have been reported over food drops in the worst hit Bihar state.

Aid workers are battling to supply food and water to millions of increasingly desperate flood victims.

However, life in flood-affected southern Nepal is returning to normal after weeks of torrential rains.

Water levels in some north Indian rivers are now receding but food, water and medicine is still not reaching those who need it most.

Clashes were reported over food drops in the worst hit area, India's state of Bihar, where 11 million are affected.

Federal ministers are expected to visit the worst-affected areas to try and assess the damage on Tuesday.

'More resources needed'

Aid agencies have warned of the outbreak of diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases.

People queue to see a doctor in Bihar

Bihar's latest victims were in a boat that capsized on the Ganges. Two people are confirmed dead and dozens are missing.

More than 20 million people have been affected across areas of northern India, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Potheri Unnikrishnan, from the humanitarian group Actionaid, said he expected pockets of flooding to continue causing problems for months.

"It is absolutely necessary that everyone - the government, the NGOs and the international community - put more resources to fight this out," he said.

Many villagers have not had supplies for days while rescuers said they had had little rest since the flooding began.

Bhagwan Manjhi from Bihar's East Champaran district told local television: "We are surviving on snails as we have nothing to eat."

Bihar and Nepal have clashed over who is responsible for the water levels.

Officials in Bihar accused Nepal of failing to build dams to control Himalayan water.

Disease risk

But an MP in Nepal, Purna Kumari Subedi, blamed a dam built in India at Laxmanpur, telling AFP that it should be destroyed.

THE ASIAN MONSOON

What is the monsoon?

In pictures: Bangladesh flood

Monsoon graphic

Although rains have generally eased, water levels coming down from Nepal are unlikely to lower soon, officials said.

Levels have lowered in areas such as Assam but officials said they were worried about an outbreak of disease as waters receded and temperatures soared.

Officials in Uttar Pradesh said they expected the situation to get better soon with water in three rivers - the Ghagra, Rapti and Gandak - receding.

In Bangladesh, the UN's World Food Programme has been distributing emergency aid to flood-hit areas.

The agency estimated that one million people had been directly affected and some were in need of urgent assistance.

In Nepal, many roads in the flooded areas have been cut and bridges have been washed away.

It is proving hard for aid agencies and the government to bring help.

They have distributed food supplies to some communities, but many people who are still living in damaged mud and thatched homes complain it is not enough.

Map of showing areas affected



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Related to this story:
In pictures: Bangladesh floods (06 Aug 07 |  In Pictures )
What is the South Asia monsoon? (03 Aug 07 |  South Asia )
South Asia considers flood lessons (03 Aug 07 |  South Asia )
S Asia floods: Worst-hit areas (03 Aug 07 |  South Asia )
In pictures: Floods in South Asia (02 Aug 07 |  In Pictures )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
The Asian monsoon
India Meteorological Department
Unicef
Save the Children
Actionaid
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