Yangon, March 26 : The death toll in a communal riot in Myanmar has risen to 40, according to an official media report Tuesday.

The toll rose from 32 as eight more bodies were found when troops cleared the wreckage in the wake of the riot which lasted three days in Meikhtila from March 20, leaving 9,600 people homeless.

Meikhtila is in Myanmar's northern Mandalay region, Xinhua reported.

The situation is now normal following the declaration of a state of emergency and with the intervention of the army to help bring about peace.

The riot was sparked by a brawl between buyers and sellers over a bit of gold clip at a shop in Meikhtila,

A total of 152 houses, an education office and 13 religious buildings were burnt in the violence besides two motor vehicles and three motorcycles.(IANS)