Indian relief work gathers pace after floods kill 132

GUJRAT, Monday (AFP) Relief teams rushed food, water, medicines and other essentials to hundreds of thousands of people marooned by floods that have killed 132 in India's western Gujarat state.

The rescue and relief effort gathered pace during a lull in heavy rains. But the weather office predicted a new downpour in the next two days in the state where 25 million people have been affected by the floods.

The new death toll, given in a statement by state revenue minister Kaushik Patel, covers almost a week of heavy rains that swelled rivers and dams. Many victims were washed away. Others were crushed when portions of buildings collapsed or were buried in mudslides.

A downpour which had lasted more than 100 hours ended Sunday in the badly-hit cities of Ahmedabad and Baroda. At least 11 air force helicopters were dropping food and water, blankets and tents to flood-hit residents, the statement said.

Gujarat law minister Ashok Bhatt said "relief, restoration and rehabilitation work" was in full-swing, although most roads were still submerged and traffic across the state was disrupted.