DHAKA, Sept 14: Life in the Bangladeshi capital came to a halt on Tuesday amid floods caused by the heaviest rains in half a century. At least 18 people have died since Saturday in three days of monsoon downpours across the country's central and southern regions.

In the Indian state of Tripura, four people drowned and 55,000 were stranded in flash floods triggered by rains. "More than 55,000 people are now sheltering in makeshift camps and we are providing food and medicines to these flood-hit people," Tripura's relief minister said.

Floods this year have claimed 1,055 lives in India. In Dhaka, houses were inundated, vehicles stranded and all schools, colleges, and government offices were closed. -AFP