Floods force halt to cremations

Hundreds have died and millions affected by rain-swollen rivers

India's holy city of Varanasi has been forced to halt cremations along the banks of the sacred river Ganges as deadly floods from monsoon rains hit parts of the country, an official said on Tuesday.

More than 100,000 people have been forced from their homes in recent days in northern Uttar Pradesh and neighboring Bihar states as rain-swollen rivers burst their banks.