Three hundred and fourty five pasports lost their pasports and 123 British people died whilst on visits to the Asian sub-continent in the past year.

These and other figures have been released by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) which is warning visiters to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh of the dangers of being unprepared for their travels.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office helped over 3,000 Brits in need of assistance in South Asia last year. India is one of the top ten countries in the world where Britons required most consular assistance.

A total of 52 people were hospitalised in India and a further 22 were arrested whilst in Pakistan. A total of 12 were arrested in Bangladesh and 35 in India.

Strangely more people lost their passports in Pakistan (195) than in India (144) despite the fact that over there were 550,000 estimated visits to India last year compared to 45,000 who went to Pakistan.

FCO research has suggested that whilst British Asians take precautions when they are travelling to holiday destinations such as Europe and the USA, it is often not the case when it comes to visiting friends and family in their country of origin.

Many travel without insurance, without having had the right vaccinations or even without ensuring they have the correct re-entry documents.

The FCO believes that many of these statistics would be lower through better preparation.

Meg Munn, Foreign Office Minister, said: "Even though you may be visiting friends or family abroad, you need to prepare thoroughly.

"Simple precautions like taking out comprehensive travel insurance, getting appropriate jabs and taking copies of important documents could help avoid common travelling traumas."

As part of the Know Before You Go Campaign, the Foreign Office has issued advice to British citizens visiting friends and family in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh.

1. Always take out travel insurance.

Medical expenses can be extortionate - it can cost up to £45,000 to get transported by air ambulance back to the UK from the Indian subcontinent.

It is unlikely you will have free access to good quality medical treatment, and costs can be extremely high if you become ill or injured.

If you have dual nationality, seek advice from your insurer on whether this affects your cover.

2. Ensure all documentation is correct.

Make sure the name on your passport is the same one you give when booking flights and arranging other travel documentation.

If you have dual nationality, make sure you have a Certificate of Entitlement (to the Right of Abode) in the passport of your other nationality for you and your family.

Make a photocopy of the relevant pages in your passports (back page of your British passport containing your photograph and details and the Certificate of Entitlement in your other passport) and keep them separately to your passports.

3.Know your nationality status.

If you are a dual national in the country of your other nationality, Her Majesty's Government can provide you with consular assistance only in exceptional circumstances.

If you or your father were born in Pakistan or Bangladesh, you may be considered a national of that country by the authorities, even if you don't hold a passport of that country. This, again, may limit the assistance that the British government can offer you - so the onus is on you to be prepared for your trip.

4.Go to your GP to check whether you or your family need vaccinations.

Even if you have lived in a country in the past, you may no longer be immune to diseases local to that region.

Ensure all required vaccinations are up-to-date Check the Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk for advice on current inoculations required for the country you are planning to visit.

5. Know the personal import laws.

It is illegal to bring meat products & pickles, milk, dairy or other animal products (e.g. fish, eggs, honey), chestnuts, potatoes or potato seeds into the UK from any country outside the EU.

Check www.defra.gov.uk for more information.

6. Update yourself on the area you're travelling to.

The laws, customs, political situation or safe and unsafe areas of a region can change very quickly. Check the Foreign Office website on www.fco.gov.uk/travel and click on Travel Advice By Country'.

Register via the website for your free email alerts service where you will be sent all the relevant travel advice changes to your favourite destinations.