India – Almost 1 Million Affected by Floods in Bihar

by in Asia, News

Authorities in India report that major rivers are at severe flood stage in 19 locations in the state of Bihar in the north east of the country. Wide areas of the state are under water and Indian Air Force helicopters have been deployed to drop flood relief materials including food and fresh water to remote and cut off locations.

Indian Air Force helicopters air drop food and relief supplies in flood-hit areas of Bihar, India, July 2020. Photo: IAF

Flooding has affected Bihar since early July this year. By mid-July, flooding had affected over 200,000 people across 8 districts.

According to reports of 25 July from Bihar’s Disaster Management Department, 960,000 people have now been affected by floods across the 10 districts of Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Supaul, Kishanganj, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, East Champaran, West Champaran and Khagari.

The Department reported 10 fatalities as a result of flooding; 7 in West Champaran, 1 in Darbhanga and 1 in Sitamarhi. Furthermore, 93,041 people have been evacuated, with almost 18,000 of them now staying in 32 relief camps.

India’s Central Water Commission said that, as of 27 July 2020, the Bagmati, Burhi Gandak, Gandak, Kosi, Adhwara, Kamla, Mahananda and Ganges were all at “Severe Flood Stage” (level 2 of 3) across several locations in the state.

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