Droughts and monsoons strike India: Mr Singh told parliament that rains were 25-50% below normal in some parts. His comments came as rain in Bangladesh and India's north-east showed no sign of abating - Guwahati, capital of Assam state, is the latest to be hit. And in Bihar, at least 15 people drowned when an overcrowded boat sank on the Gandak river. Mr Singh told parliament that vast swathes of northern, western and central India had experienced insufficient rainfall, and that crops could be affected. He said he had asked India's highest ranking civil servant, cabinet secretary BK Chaturvedi, to review the situation every week. Officials say grain stocks are being increased in areas of low rainfall and measures are being taken to provide adequate drinking water. "The government shall spare no efforts in providing all possible assistance to people in the eventuality of a drought," Mr Singh said. At the same time, Bihar and Assam are experiencing their worst floods in 10 years. More than 300 people have lost their lives in India's floods and more than 19m have been affected.