India floods death toll crosses 300: officials

At least 1.5 million people have been displaced in the states of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh after days of torrential rain.

More than 200 people have been killed in Karnataka alone, said H.V. Parashwanath, secretary of Karnataka's disaster monitoring agency.

"There could be 200,000 to 300,000 people in villages where aid has not reached," he said.

Authorities said more than half a million people were in relief camps in Andhra Pradesh, with a further 650,000 in shelters in Karnataka.

Residents who stayed in their homes took refuge on balconies and rooftops, complaining that food and aid had been slow to reach them.

(...) India's defence ministry said the military had delivered more than 4.5 tonnes (five tons) of food to survivors whose grain stocks have been wiped out.

The floods sent food prices rocketing throughout the region, with rice and sugarcane among the worst-damaged crops.