The new deaths were reported over the past two days as incessant rain coupled with swelling rivers fed by downpour from the Nepalese Himalayas flooded another 300 villagers, the state relief department said.

"The total population affected by floods now stands at 3.28 million in 2,300 villages across 17 (of Bihar's 37) districts," a statement from the department said.

"Altogether 116 health centers and 76 animal health care centers have been opened up in flood-affected districts to help the victims," Upendra Sharma, the deputy secretary of relief operations, told AFP.

Ironically, officials expressed concern that other parts of Bihar were too dry as in some parts the monsoon stopped a week ago, potentially jeopardizing the harvest.

Floods have taken a heavy toll in South Asia this year. In southern Pakistan, 167 people have been killed while in Bangladesh at least 85 have died in floods and storms.

In the northeastern Indian state of Assam, 32 people drowned this year while in northern Himachal Pradesh at least 127 have died in two flash-floods.

At least 147 people have died in Nepal since mid-June in landslides, floods and lightning, according to the kingdom's home ministry.

TERRA.WIRE