New Delhi: The death toll from a fresh spell of monsoon-driven floods in India has climbed to 154 and affected more than 1 million residents, officials said on Sunday.
At least 60 people have died and 229,000 have been moved to relief camps in the southern state of Kerala since Thursday, officials at the disaster management control room said.
"The flood situation remains grim and agencies are on high alert in six districts. Many deaths have been reported in rain-triggered landslides in Wayanad and Malappuram districts," an official said.
Thirty-four more people had died and 481,000 people were either displaced or evacuated to safety in the neighbouring Karnataka statein the same period.
At least 30 more have been killed and 400,000 people have been affected in the western state of Maharashtra since Monday, according to officials.
An equal number had died in torrential rains in the neighboring state of Gujarat on Saturday alone, the Hindu newspaper reported.
While Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat were worst-hit, more states have reported flooding, including Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,Goa and Andhra Pradesh.
Rescue teams from the disaster response force, army, navy and airforce were deployed in these states for rescue and relief operations.
India's monsoon season between June and September sees heavy rains which are vital for agriculture but cause immense destruction and loss of life.
Dozens died in floods in India particularly in the eastern states of Bihar and Assam last month, with the inundation causing heavy losses to farms, homes and infrastructure. DPA
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