Local residents draw water from a well on a flooded street in Sirajganj, 110 km northwest of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Aug. 6, 2007. The death toll from the summer floods in Bangladesh climbed to 298 Monday. (Xinhua/Huang Yanan) Photo Gallery>>>

    DHAKA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the summer floods in Bangladesh climbed to 298 Monday amid fresh downpour that deteriorated the overall situation affecting an increased number of over 10 million people.

    Officials in the Food and Disaster Management Ministry counted 30 more deaths in last 24 hours till Monday morning, pushing the casualty figure to 298.

    The deaths were caused by drowning, snakebite and various water-borne diseases.

    The monsoon flood had showed an improvement in last few days with the retreat of waters in major rivers. But the heavy downpour again inundated as many as 39 out of the country's 64 districts, increasing the plight of the people.

    A bulletin of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) said the downpour triggered by land depression that formed over the Indian state of West Bengal and the adjoining area in Bangladesh has deteriorated the flood situation across the country, particularly in capital Dhaka.

    The bulletin said water level of five rivers surrounding Dhaka City swelled further and were flowing above their danger marks.

    An official of the Health Ministry said more than 45,000 have been infected by diarrhea and that many by skin disease and respiratory problems in the flood-affected districts.

    Nearly 3,000 medical teams are working round-the-clock to treat the people.

    Meanwhile, five Saudi cargo planes loaded with foodstuff, medicine and other humanitarian assistance worth 50 million U.S. dollars are on way to flood-stricken Bangladesh.

    The first consignment of the succor will reach Dhaka Monday night and other consignments will be reaching in next 10 days, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah Al-Obaid Al-Namia told reporters after his meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Advisor Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury.

    This is so far the largest relief aid from any single country for the Bangladeshi flood victims this year.

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