New Delhi - The death toll due to seasonal monsoon rains and flooding in India touched 359 on Monday, with the National Disaster Management cell reporting 72 deaths over the past 24 hours.

The worst-hit states were northern Uttar Pradesh, where 61 people have died since Friday. Ten deaths were reported from eastern West Bengal and one from Orissa.

A total of 5.5 million people had been affected by the floods across at least seven states - Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, the disaster management cell of the federal Home Ministry said in its latest situation report.

Most of the deaths were caused by incidents of house collapse and flooding.

Major rivers in north-eastern Assam were flowing above danger level, the report said.

The weather department predicted heavy showers over northern and eastern India over the next three days.

India's monsoon season lasts from June to October but came a few weeks early this year. The rains are the heaviest in eastern India and gradually move across in a north-westerly direction.

The seasonal rains in 2007 were the most devastating in recent memory, with more than 3,200 people killed across several states. (dpa)