"For the whole monsoon season which began about two weeks ago, the death toll is now 179," A.K. Bargav, director general of police for Gujarat, told AFP. He said at least 18 other people were missing.

Flood waters which were up to 10 feet high (three metres) in places were receding in southern Gujarat, worst hit in recent days by the annual monsoon, Gujarat relief commissioner V.A. Sathe said.

But weather officials said that more heavy rains were forecast for the western region, which had been facing drought, threatening economic growth in the agriculture-dependent country of more than one billion.

Gujarat officials have said the monsoon flooding which has destroyed mud homes and washed away crops and roads is the worst in the state since 1998.