MOSCOW, July 20 (RIA Novosti) - A total of 131 people have been killed in flash floods in the southern Indian states of Kerala and Orissa, the Press Trust of India reported on Monday citing official data.

The paper said that 95 people have died since May 24 when monsoon rains swept across the southwestern Indian state of Kerala. Over 8,700 hectares of agricultural land in Kerala has been flooded and partially destroyed.

Monsoon floods also completely destroyed about 600 houses and partially damaged another 13,500, forcing 24,000 local residents from their homes and into some 340 tent camps.

The total damage has been estimated at $47 million.

In addition, a total of 36 people have been killed by flash floods in the eastern Indian state of Orissa.

Meanwhile, North Korea's Central News Agency (KCNA) said most of the reclusive communist state has also been affected by heavy rains, including the capital Pyongyang. The agency gave no details of damage or casualties.

In August 2007 North Korea was hit by its worst flooding since the 1970s, in which up to 800 people died or went missing. Some 11% of the country's crops were destroyed, forcing Pyongyang to request international aid.