Sunday’s toll came days after reports of at least 59 fatalities in the past week amid forecasts that heavy rains would continue until Monday.

Millions of people have been hit by floods, their homes and crops devastated by surging waters in the worst-hit Bihar and Assam states.

With sizzling temperatures claiming more than 300 lives this month, daytime cooking has been banned in some parts India to prevent fires that have killed nearly 80 more people.