Tianjin blasts death toll rises to 158

Over 460,000 people have been affected by flood in the northeast Indian state of Assam which was hit by the deluge over the past few days, said local media Monday.

Flood situation in Assam has deteriorated again, affecting 464, 000 people in some major towns and more than 1,000 villages, and causing widespread destruction, the Indo-Asian News Service quoted officials in the state capital Guwahati as saying Monday.

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority said the situation was serious in several districts in eastern Assam, where more than 700 villages remained submerged for the last two days, according to the report.

Local media said at least five people were washed away by the flood waters on Sunday.

Relief and rescue operations had been stepped up in all the affected areas, while schools have been shut down in affected areas, said the reports.

The Brahmaputra river is flowing above the danger level in some areas while another major river in the state, the Ranganodi, has breached the danger mark.

Some roads and bridges have also been damaged in the state.