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Bihar displaced die as boat sinks Capsize in India floods kills 20
(about 5 hours later)
At least 20 people have been killed after a boat capsized while carrying dozens of refugees from flooding in the Indian state of Bihar, say police.At least 20 people have been killed after a boat capsized while carrying dozens of refugees from flooding in the Indian state of Bihar, say police.
The incident raises the death toll from the floods to more than 70. More than 70 people have now died in the floods and hundreds of thousands are stranded without food or water.
Thousands of people have been evacuated to higher ground to escape the rising waters after the Kosi river breached its banks and changed course. Indian soldiers are using boats and helicopters to reach several hundred remote villages.
Continuing bad weather has hampered efforts to get aid to 2.5 million people who have been displaced. The flooding occurred as water flowing from Nepal caused the Kosi river to breach its banks and change course.
Angry villagers in the worst-affected district, Madhepura, said they had no idea where to take shelter. The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says more rain is expected in the next two days so authorities are moving as swiftly as they can to evacuate villages before the waters rise again.
The flooding began 11 days ago in neighbouring Nepal, leaving tens of thousands of people homeless there. The continuing bad weather is hampering efforts to get aid to about 2.5 million people who have been displaced.
Indian PM Manmohan Singh, who visited the affected areas in Bihar on Thursday, said the flooding was a "national calamity". 'National calamity'
He has announced an aid package worth $230m (£115m). Our correspondent says many of those stranded in remote villages are sitting on the roofs of their submerged homes.
But aid agencies say many of the victims are being moved to temporary shelters which lack basic amenities and are at risk from disease. class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7587686.stm">How we rescued survivors class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7586824.stm">See how the river changed course
'Under water' There is an acute shortage of food and some people are eating uncooked rice and drinking stagnant water to stay alive.
Mohanlal Sharma of the BBC's Hindi service in Madhepura said the road between Madhepura and Purnea districts was under 10 feet of water. class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7587686.stm">How we rescued survivors class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7586824.stm">See how the river changed course Tens of thousands of people have crowded into temporary relief camps.
"Along the route, I saw thousands of villagers running towards the town. Some were on foot, some on their bicycles. Some were taking their cattle. Villagers have loaded their entire life's acquisitions on ox-carts and trying to escape the waters." The boat incident took place on Friday in the worst-affected district, Madhepura, 150km (95 miles) north-east of Bihar's capital, Patna.
Our correspondent says people have taken shelter at the railway stations and higher stretches along some of the roads. Police said 40 people were saved.
Many angry villagers complained they had received no food or aid and did not know where they could take shelter. ON Bhaskar, superintendent of police, told the Associated Press news agency: "The boat was overcrowded because people panicked to be rescued and clambered on board."
Angry villagers in Madhepura said they had no idea where to take shelter and complained they had received no food or aid.
"We have lost everything," said Bimlesh Yadav, escaping with his family to a nearby town."We have lost everything," said Bimlesh Yadav, escaping with his family to a nearby town.
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People try to flee as water floods the area
"All our belongings have been submerged in the floodwaters. We are leaving to save our children.""All our belongings have been submerged in the floodwaters. We are leaving to save our children."
Politicians' visit Mohanlal Sharma of the BBC's Hindi service in Madhepura said the road between Madhepura and Purnea districts was under 10 feet of water.
Meanwhile, officials say a massive rescue and relief operation is underway. "Along the route, I saw thousands of villagers running towards the town. Some were on foot, some on their bicycles. Some were taking their cattle. Villagers have loaded their entire life's acquisitions on ox-carts and are trying to escape the waters."
At least 124,000 people have been evacuated to safer grounds. Indian PM Manmohan Singh, who visited the affected areas in Bihar on Thursday, said the flooding was a "national calamity".
Official reports said 725 villages were badly affected by the floods and 106 relief camps had been set up in the area. He has announced an aid package worth $230m (£115m).
Army and air force helicopters continued to provide aid to the flood-ravaged parts and 600 boats were helping with the relief and rescue work. But aid agencies say many of the victims are being moved to temporary shelters which lack basic amenities.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the president of the governing Congress Party, Sonia Gandhi, flew over the flood-affected area on Thursday by helicopter to get a first-hand view of the devastation. A report released by Unicef says there are fears of infectious diseases at the camps.
The floods have washed away roads and railway tracks, and water and electricity supplies have been affected in many areas.The military has been evacuating people to higher ground Army and air force helicopters are continuing to provide aid to the flood-ravaged parts and 600 boats are helping with the relief and rescue work.
But the floods have washed away roads and railway tracks, and water and electricity supplies have been affected in many areas.
"This situation is beyond comprehension," Bihar resident, Arshad Khaqani, told the BBC News website."This situation is beyond comprehension," Bihar resident, Arshad Khaqani, told the BBC News website.
A report released by Unicef says there are fears of infectious diseases as hundreds of thousands of homeless crowd into relief camps. Nepal's damage
The Kosi river flows from Nepal where it is called the Saptakoshi river. On 18 August a dam on the Saptakoshi burst, triggering the subsequent flooding in Bihar. The Kosi river flows from Nepal where it is called the Saptakoshi river.
On 18 August a dam on the Saptakoshi burst, triggering the subsequent flooding 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. 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).
Meanwhile, in India's Uttar Pradesh state, which borders Bihar and Nepal, the health authorities say at least 400 people have died from water-borne diseases during the current monsoon season.
Officials say 181 of the deaths have occurred in the eastern districts from encephalitis carried by mosquitoes breeding on the water.
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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