Mumbai counts the cost of floods

An Indian milkman pushes his bicycle laden with supplies through the waterloggged Kalina area of Mumbai yesterday. Monsoon rains which have lashed India's financial and entertainment capital disrupting flights, hampering rescue efforts and pushed the death toll closer to 1,000, as the city battled to recover from its worst-ever recorded deluge. PHOTO: AFP

Others say the cost to agriculture and industry is likely to be much higher.

Indian officials say the number of people who have died could soon rise to 1,000. Rescue workers are still trying to recover bodies from flooded areas.

More than 20 million people have been affected by the rains, which began a week ago and have continued since.

Meteorologists are still forecasting heavy rain and strong winds in the state of Maharashtra, of which Mumbai is the capital.

The heavy rain and accompanying floods have had a major impact on agricultural production and industry, analysts warn.

The Indian Merchants' Chamber estimates that the total damage thus far is 30 billion rupees ($690m), according to the Economic Times newspaper.