29 die as Asia floods death toll climbs again

The death toll from South Asia floods is on the rise again today as 29 more people were killed by flooding and water-borne diseases in India and Bangladesh.

The death toll from the devastating monsoon rain across South Asia has now reached 2,047.

Five villagers drowned while trying to cross flooded areas in Bakhri, south of Bihar state’s capital of Patna, Upendra Sharma, a state government official, said.

An additional 15 bodies were also found floating as flood waters receded in East Champaran, Katihar and Sheohar districts of the state.

Nine more deaths were recorded in Bangladesh today from diarrhoea and dysentery, the Food and Disaster Management Ministry said.

Since flooding began in June, at least 1,215 people have died in India, 703 in Bangladesh, 124 in Nepal and five in Pakistan. Victims have mostly died from drowning, mudslides and water-borne diseases.

Although floodwaters in Bangladesh continued to recede from two-thirds of the country, the death toll across South Asia was already well above last year, when 1,500 people were killed during a monsoon that extended to mid-October.

The monsoon usually runs from June through September.