Half a million people in the Indian state of Bihar remain stranded in villages which have been devastated by massive flooding, officials say. A BBC correspondent reports chaotic scenes as soldiers try to reach those cut off and people attempt to scramble from rooftops into rescue boats. With 1.2 million people homeless, India is struggling to cope with the crisis. The flood waters are spreading to new areas, and conditions in relief camps are overcrowded and unsanitary. The floods are known to have killed at least 75 people in Bihar but the death toll could climb once the situation in remote areas emerges.
Half a million people in the Indian state of Bihar remain stranded in villages which have been devastated by massive flooding, officials say.
A BBC correspondent reports chaotic scenes as soldiers try to reach those cut off and people attempt to scramble from rooftops into rescue boats.
With 1.2 million people homeless, India is struggling to cope with the crisis.
The flood waters are spreading to new areas, and conditions in relief camps are overcrowded and unsanitary.
The floods are known to have killed at least 75 people in Bihar but the death toll could climb once the situation in remote areas emerges.
NEW DELHI: Millions of farmers and their families may be displaced for months after severe floods in northern India wiped out crops and homes, leaving hundreds of villages under several feet of water, officials said Friday. The Kosi River in Bihar, one of the poorest and most populous Indian states, overflowed its banks this past week after a dam burst in neighboring Nepal, causing the worst floods in the area in 50 years. More than 21 million people and over 102,000 hectares, or 394 square miles, have been affected by the flooding, the Bihar government said on Friday. About a quarter of a million people have been evacuated so far. These evacuees may not be able to return to their homes, assuming these homes still exist, until the autumn, state government officials said. "This water will remain for some time," said Devi Rajak, chief engineer for Bihar's water resource department. "It may start decreasing in September, depending upon upstream discharge."
NEW DELHI: Millions of farmers and their families may be displaced for months after severe floods in northern India wiped out crops and homes, leaving hundreds of villages under several feet of water, officials said Friday.
The Kosi River in Bihar, one of the poorest and most populous Indian states, overflowed its banks this past week after a dam burst in neighboring Nepal, causing the worst floods in the area in 50 years. More than 21 million people and over 102,000 hectares, or 394 square miles, have been affected by the flooding, the Bihar government said on Friday. About a quarter of a million people have been evacuated so far.
These evacuees may not be able to return to their homes, assuming these homes still exist, until the autumn, state government officials said.
"This water will remain for some time," said Devi Rajak, chief engineer for Bihar's water resource department. "It may start decreasing in September, depending upon upstream discharge."
Up to 2,000 people are feared dead after a river changed course, flooding hundreds of villages in the Indian state of Bihar. Stranded villagers were surviving on uncooked rice mixed with dirty water, as authorities struggled to deliver aid to the displaced millions after the worst floods to hit the eastern state in 50 years. Around 90 people have been confirmed dead by officials, but aid agencies believe the death toll is much higher. Unicef said more than 1,000 villages had been affected by surging waters, which submerged thousands of homes and damaged water and electricity supplies. An estimated 100,000 hectares of farmland is thought to have been ruined. Heavy rain and damaged roads continued to hamper aid efforts, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without food and clean water. Rapid changes in the river's course have forced many people to move shelter several times, and to sell precious livestock just to survive. One villager, Sabia Devi, said: "I sold my goat for just 50 rupees, which on any other day could have brought me 2,000 rupees."
Up to 2,000 people are feared dead after a river changed course, flooding hundreds of villages in the Indian state of Bihar. Stranded villagers were surviving on uncooked rice mixed with dirty water, as authorities struggled to deliver aid to the displaced millions after the worst floods to hit the eastern state in 50 years.
Around 90 people have been confirmed dead by officials, but aid agencies believe the death toll is much higher. Unicef said more than 1,000 villages had been affected by surging waters, which submerged thousands of homes and damaged water and electricity supplies. An estimated 100,000 hectares of farmland is thought to have been ruined.
Heavy rain and damaged roads continued to hamper aid efforts, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without food and clean water. Rapid changes in the river's course have forced many people to move shelter several times, and to sell precious livestock just to survive.
One villager, Sabia Devi, said: "I sold my goat for just 50 rupees, which on any other day could have brought me 2,000 rupees."
So much potential, but so little chance of realisation. The idea of India being an asian tiger would be laughable if it weren't for the fact that so many western commentators have been well-paid to promote the idea.
India is following china down the path of self-destruction through stupidity and will starve its population doing it. keep to the Fen Causeway
