News / India

Floods kill over 50 in eastern India, millions affected

Saturday, 30 July 2016 3:00 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 30 July 2016 3:15 PM ]

Villagers transport flood relief items on a boat in the village of Jhargoan in Morigoan district, India’s northeastern state of Assam, July 28, 2016. (AFP)

In eastern India, days of monsoons triggered floods this week that killed over 50 people and have affected millions of others.

Officials in the northeastern state of Assam said Saturday that 26 people died as rivers burst their banks, causing deadly floods in villages.

"The flood situation is really grim. Twenty-six people have died over seven days and some 3.6 million people are affected," Home Minister Rajnath Singh said.

Singh, who was briefing the journalists on the results of an aerial survey of the worst-affected districts, said India’s National Disaster Response Force and the army are doing their best to help people affected by the surging waters. “Some 60 boats have been pressed into service to rescue people... No efforts are being spared to help the people.”

Reports said people were sheltered in makeshift camps along the highways and on higher ground in Assam.

Local news agencies said some 26 people were also killed in the state of Bihar as floods displaced thousands.

Flooding and landslides triggered by torrential monsoons claim the lives of scores of people every year in India and neighboring Nepal and Bangladesh.

Dozens were killed in flash floods that hit the northern regions of India earlier this month. Heavy downpours also affected the central state of Madhya Pradesh, killing at least 15 people.

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