Updated on Saturday, July 04, 2009, 15:57 IST

Dhaka, July 04: Torrential rains triggered landslides and flash floods killing six people and stranding half a million in their homes in Bangladesh, officials said on Saturday.

The landslides occurred near Habiganj district town, some 200 km (125 miles) northeast of the capital Dhaka on Saturday, burying all six members of a family.

Officials said the situation had worsened at three other nearby districts, with some 500,000 people stranded at their homes as the rivers Surma and Khusiara, flowing into Bangladesh from northeastern India, burst their banks following incessant rains over the last four days.

"Hundreds of thatched houses were damaged, and standing crops on vast lands and rural infrastructures have been damaged," a senior disaster management official told without giving details.

The situation is likely to deteriorate as the Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecast more rains in the region including northeastern India.

Bureau Report