Floods kill 31 more people in India

The deaths occurred Thursday and Friday in the coastal area of the state of Andhra Pradesh, where some 50,000 people sought refuge in relief camps on higher ground after their homes were flooded, disaster management official GT Priyadarshini said.

Tens of thousands of others have been affected by the flooding across India.

Reports from local officials in various parts of the country indicate at least 342 people have died so far in this year's monsoon, which runs from April to September. An accurate national death toll is not kept, and the total number of people killed across India is likely much higher.

"The situation is quite alarming but the administration in the affected districts is taking all the necessary measures to help the people," Priyadarshini said.

She said 26 deaths were reported from the Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Vishakhapatanam districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, deluged under severe flooding for three days. Twenty-one others were injured in the three badly hit districts, and many of them were in serious condition.