Supply disruptions due to heavy rains and floods drove food inflation up to 16.44 per cent in the week ended September 18. The cost of cereals, fruits, select vegetables and milk rose on account of supply disruptions.Week-on-week, food inflation climbed 0.98 percentage points from 15.46 per cent in the week ended September 11.This was the fifth consecutive week in which the rate of food prices has risen, after a spell of moderation in July and the first half of August.An unusually heavy spell of late monsoon showers had resulted in severe flooding across many states, including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, resulting in disruption of supplies.