KATHMANDU/DHAKA, August 15 (Reuters) - Heavy monsoon rains in Nepal, Bangladesh and India have killed more than 160 people in the last week, officials said on Tuesday, as authorities rushed to rescue those missing or stranded in flooded areas.   In Nepal, the death toll rose to 115 amid more flash floods and landslides, with 38 people missing. Relief workers said 26 of Nepal's 75 districts were either submerged or had been hit by landslides after rain lashed the Himalayan nation.   Television pictures showed people wading chest-deep through water carrying belongings and livestock. [caption id="attachment_294358" align="aligncenter" width="650"] A boy walks along the flooded area in Saptari District, Nepal August 14, 2017. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar[/caption] [caption id="attachment_294359" align="aligncenter" width="650"] A school is submerged at the flood affected area in Saptari District, Nepal August 14, 2017. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar[/caption] [caption id="attachment_294360" align="aligncenter" width="650"] A man walks out from a house at the flood affected area in Saptari District, Nepal August 14, 2017. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar[/caption] [caption id="attachment_294361" align="aligncenter" width="650"] A woman carrying goods walks along the flood affected area at Saptari District, Nepal August 14, 2017. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar[/caption] [caption id="attachment_294362" align="aligncenter" width="650"] A boy walks along the flooded affected area at Saptari District, Nepal August 14, 2017. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar[/caption] "We will now focus more on rescue of those trapped in floods and relief distribution. People have nothing to eat, no clothes. So we have to provide them something to eat and save their lives," said Nepali police spokesman Pushkar Karki.   Floods in north Bangladesh have killed at least 27 people in the last few days and affected more than 500,000, many of them fleeing their homes to shelter in camps, officials said.   The situation could get worse as heavy rain in parts of neighbouring India flow downstream into the low-lying and densely populated country, they said.   In the northern Indian state of Bihar, national disaster relief force teams have been airlifted in to help with rescue and relief work, the government said.   Media reported that about two million people in the state had been affected, and at least 10 killed. Flooding has also killed at least 15 people in the last two days in Assam state in the northeast.   India's meteorological department is forecasting more heavy rain into Wednesday.   Monsoon rains, which start in June and continue through September, are a lifeline for farmers in vast parts of rural India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, but they also cause loss of life and property damage every year. [caption id="attachment_294365" align="aligncenter" width="650"] A farm house is submerged by flood water in Saptari District, Nepal August 14, 2017. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar[/caption] [caption id="attachment_294366" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Villagers stand on a higher ground as they swim on the flood water in Saptari District, Nepal August 14, 2017. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar[/caption] [caption id="attachment_294367" align="aligncenter" width="650"] A man clears the plant near his house at the flood affected area in Saptari District, Nepal August 14, 2017. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar[/caption] [caption id="attachment_294368" align="aligncenter" width="650"] People use makeshift boats as they try to move to safer places along a flooded road in Jakhalabandha area in Nagaon district, in Assam, India August 14, 2017. REUTERS/Anuwar Hazarika[/caption] [caption id="attachment_294369" align="aligncenter" width="650"] A woman carries her child as she and others wade through a flooded road in Jakhalabandha area in Nagaon district, in Assam, India August 14, 2017. REUTERS/Anuwar Hazarika[/caption] [caption id="attachment_294370" align="aligncenter" width="650"] People use a makeshift raft to transport goats as they wade through a flooded road in Jakhalabandha area in Nagaon district, in Assam, India, August 13, 2017. REUTERS/Anuwar Hazarika[/caption] [caption id="attachment_294371" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Indian army soldiers evacuate villagers affected by flood in Jakhalabandha area in Nagaon district, in Assam, India, August 13, 2017. REUTERS/Anuwar Hazarika[/caption]  

6.5 mn hit by floods in Bihar, over 40 dead

  Patna, Aug 15 (IANS) More than 6.5 million people have been affected by floods in Bihar, that have claimed the lives of over 40 people so far, washed away thousands of huts, badly damaged buildings, roads, bridges and standing crops worth crores, officials said on Tuesday.   Bihar disaster management department officials said that 65.37 lakh people in 889 panchayats under 84 blocks in 13 districts have been affected by the floods. "So far 41 people have died in the floods," officials said, but unconfirmed reports put death toll at 85.   Nearly three million people were affected alone in the worst-hit districts of Kishanganj, Araria, Purnea and Katihar in last three days. "Thousands were displaced due to floods," an official said.   According to them, about 1.82 lakh people have been evacuated to safe places by the rescue teams in the last two days.   The state administration says at least five more districts including Samastipur, Khagaria and Sheohar face the threat of floods. "Flood waters have entered in some new areas and are likely to create panic among people," officials said.   Other affected districts are Darbhanga, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Madhepura, Saharsa, Supaul, East and West Champaran.   Reports reaching here suggest that thousands of people have been forced to flee from their homes after their villages were inundated. They have taken shelter in high rise areas, including national highways, schools and government buildings.   In view of the worsening flood situation, the state government has cancelled the leave of doctors and heath department officials in flood-hit districts.   The state disaster management department has asked people living in low lying areas to move to higher places as heavy rains continued.   "The flood situation in Bihar will continue to be grim following rising water levels of rivers and incessant rains," met department officials said.   Major rivers in the state including the Koshi, Mahananda, Gandak, Bagmati and Ganga are in spate and some rivers have breached their banks and embankments, officials said.   "With heavy rainfall in Bihar as well as in the catchment areas in Nepal, the water level of these rivers has been rising," an official told IANS.   The government has launched massive relief and rescue operations with help from the Army, Air Force as well as National Disaster Response Force and Bihar State Disaster Response Force teams.   "We have deployed four Army teams, 22 NDRF and 15 SDRF teams along with hundreds of our own officials in relief and rescue operations in flood-affected districts," Pratyaya Amrit, Principal Secretary in the Bihar Disaster Management Department, said.   Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday sought the help of the Army and Indian Air Force in relief and rescue operations. He also requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to provide all possible aid. Both have assured him of help.   Nitish Kumar, after an aerial survey of the four worst hit flooded districts on Monday, said he had told officials to speed up rescue and relief work. He again spoke with Modi and requested assistance.   Railway stations in Kishanganj, Katihar and Jogbani in Araria were flooded, leaving scores of passengers stranded. Eighteen trains have been cancelled since Sunday.   According to officials, crops worth crores were damaged and road links to several places have been snapped. Reports reaching here said flood waters had submerged NH 104 in Sitamarhi, NH 31 in Kishanganj and NH 327 in Araria.