New Delhi  - The flood situation in India's north-eastern Assam state was grave on Sunday with more than 2.1 million people displaced and the death toll touching 24, officials and news reports said.

The Bramhaputra river and its tributaries have flooded farmland, villages, towns and two national park areas. Several sections of railroads and highways were swept away.

"The situation is still grim with 20 of the state's 27 districts affected by the floods," Assam Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Bhumidhar Barman was quoted as saying by IANS news agency.

New Delhi, Sept 7 : While the Nuclear Supplies Group waiver at Vienna on Saturday has been a major breakthrough for India, there is concern here that China chose to join the group of six like-minded countries that expressed reservations in granting India-specific waiver at the last minute in the NSG meeting.

National Security Advisor M K Narayanan told reporters on Saturday that India would take up the issue with China. The Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jienchi is visiting India next week and Narayanan said that the subject will be discussed with him.

New Delhi, Sept. 7 : India has suggested to Pakistan open the Srinagar-Muzafarabad route for trade from October 1 this year.

New Delhi has also expressed its willingness to open new routes to boost trade across the Line of Control (LOC).

In an interview to All India Radio on Saturday, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said: "Our proposal for opening the LOC trade from October 1 has been forwarded to Pakistan and we are awaiting their response. Necessary steps will be taken as soon as we receive Pakistan''s response."

He also ruled out that the proposal for opening the route was connected in any way to the recent political upheaval in Kashmir.

New Delhi, Sept 6 : India burst into jubilations as the 45-nations Nuclear Supplier''s Group (NSG) approved a U. S. proposal on Saturday to lift the global ban on nuclear trade with India, in a breakthrough towards sealing a controversial US-India Nuclear deal.

Supporters of ruling Congress Party celebrated the ''momentous'' occasion by bursting crackers and dancing outside the party''s office.

New Delhi, Sept 6 : Former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral tonight welcomed the waiver given by the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to the US-India civil nuclear cooperation deal.

Reacting to the NSG’s decision Mr. Gujral said: “I have always supported the nuclear deal as it ends India’s nuclear isolation and places it into a different league altogether.”

Gujral added that apart from positions taken and political compulsion by various opposition groups, the fact is “no political party can deny that the nuclear deal will work to India’s advantage”.