North-east India struggles with massive floods

GUWAHATI: Severe rainfall has led to floods in eastern states of India like Assam, Bihar and Meghalaya, displacing lakhs of people. According to data released by Assam’s State Disaster Management Authority, 3,181 villages have been flooded due to the overflowing of the waters of the river Brahmaputra, affecting 26 lakh people in the state alone.

The floods have claimed 11 lives in the state so far, and affected more than 87,607 hectares of crop land.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reported to have spoken to Sarbananda Sonowal, Chief Minister of Assam, who told him that 31 of the state’s 32 districts were affected. 

In Bihar, the death toll is reported to be 4. The Patna Meteorological Department has forecasted rain to continue in the state for the coming three days, further increasing the severity of the situation. The worst-affected districts in Bihar are Araria, Kishanganj, Supaul, Darbhanga, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, East Champaran, Madhubani, and Muzaffarpur. According to official reports, over 18 lakh people in 352 panchayat areas of 55 blocks have been affected.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been active in dealing with the calamity as they have set up 152 relief camps in Bihar, housing over 45,000 people. Similar order of action has been taken in other effected states also.

The massive floods are effecting states of north eastern India, Bihar and Nepal.