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India battles devastating floods India boosts flood relief effort
(3 days later)
Pressure is building on the Indian government to do more for half a million people stranded by devastating floods in the state of Bihar. India has stepped up its efforts to assist half a million people displaced by severe flooding in Bihar state.
A BBC correspondent reports chaotic scenes as soldiers try to reach those cut off and people attempt to scramble from rooftops into rescue boats. Reports say the military has poured fresh troops, doctors and medical equipment into the devastated north.
With 1.2 million people homeless, India is struggling to cope with the crisis. Tens of thousands of survivors have crowded into unsanitary relief camps, where tensions are growing over the desperate lack of emergency supplies.
The flood waters are spreading to new areas, and conditions in relief camps are overcrowded and unsanitary. Monsoon rains caused a river to change course cutting across Bihar, affecting areas not normally prone to floods.
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. At least 75 people have been killed in Bihar - but officials have warned that the death toll could climb once the situation in remote areas becomes clear.
Large areas remain totally submerged, with reports suggesting that some villages have simply been washed away by strong currents. Reports suggest that some villages have simply been washed away by strong currents.
Tens of thousands of people have also been displaced in neighbouring Nepal, where some of those who have lost their homes are camping under plastic sheets. In the north-eastern state of Assam, monsoon rains have caused the Brahmaputra river to burst its banks, displacing hundreds of thousands of people.
More than 100 villages have been completely submerged in the past 24 hours, officials said.
Across the border in Nepal, tens of thousands of people have also been displaced.
DisorganisationDisorganisation
Fights have been breaking out among people desperate to board 800 overcrowded army boats - each of which can carry between one and two dozen people - that have been deployed to help the evacuation process. More than half a million people have been evacuated from the disaster zone, and officials hope to rescue the other 500,000 in the next few days, disaster management officials said.
Uncertainty in India flood campHow we rescued survivorsSee how the river changed course The military said it was sending thousands more troops as well as helicopters and boats to Bihar, which is one of India's poorest states. Uncertainty in India flood campHow we rescued survivors class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7592251.stm">In pictures: Flood rescue effort class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7586824.stm">See how the river changed course
The temporary relief camps are being supported by volunteers and community groups, and a lack of central co-ordination is hampering the relief process. With the numbers of people in the camps expected to nearly double in the coming days, there are fears that poor conditions could lead to outbreaks of diseases such as cholera.
The United Nations warned that "the heat, combined with limited supplies of safe drinking water and poor hygiene conditions, poses a great risk of water and vector-borne diseases".
The temporary camps are being supported by volunteers and community groups, but a lack of central co-ordination is hampering efforts.
Visiting the Bageecha relief camp in Purnea, the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder could find no camp co-ordinator or government official in charge of distributing aid.Visiting the Bageecha relief camp in Purnea, the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder could find no camp co-ordinator or government official in charge of distributing aid.
Trucks and vans carrying relief material stood parked on the highway as volunteers waited to be organised. Trucks and vans carrying aid stood parked on the highway as volunteers waited to be organised, he said.
Several tonnes of aid had arrived but the volunteers were not quite sure how to distribute it.
The situation was symptomatic of what was happening across Bihar's flood-affected areas, our correspondent says.The situation was symptomatic of what was happening across Bihar's flood-affected areas, our correspondent says.
Massive costsMassive costs
The disaster began on 18 August when a dam burst on the Saptakoshi river in Nepal.The disaster began on 18 August when a dam burst on the Saptakoshi river in Nepal.
The Saptakoshi, which becomes the Kosi when it enters India, subsequently broke its banks in Bihar.The Saptakoshi, which becomes the Kosi when it enters India, subsequently broke its banks in Bihar.
Officials in Nepal say hundreds of people there have been hit by illnesses such as diarrhoea and pneumonia, and an estimated 50,000 are homeless.Officials in Nepal say hundreds of people there have been hit by illnesses such as diarrhoea and pneumonia, and an estimated 50,000 are homeless.
They say nearly 1,000 houses have been completely destroyed. Power supplies and transport have been severely affected. They say nearly 1,000 houses have been completely destroyed, and that power supplies and transport have been severely affected.
The costs to the economy are now estimated at one billion Nepalese rupees ($14.25m).The costs to the economy are now estimated at one billion Nepalese rupees ($14.25m).
Have you been affected by the floods in Bihar? Send us your comments and experiences.Have you been affected by the floods in Bihar? Send us your comments and experiences.
Send your pictures and videos of the impact of the floods to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions Send your pictures and videos of the impact of the floods to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
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