India/Nepal

Hundreds of thousands of flood victims stranded

Article published on the 2008-09-02 Latest update 2008-09-02 15:47 TU

The victims of flooding in Bihar evacuate their cattle.
(Photo : Reuters)

Hundreds of thousands of victims of flooding in the Indian state of Bihar have been stranded and face major disease outbreaks unless help reaches them quickly, aid workers have warned. The authorities have been criticised for failing to rescue flood victims for more than a week after the scale of the flooding became evident.

At least 100 people have been confirmed dead since the flooding two weeks ago. The real toll is believed to be far higher.

Monsoon rains caused the river Kosi to change course, severely affecting areas in Bihar which are not normally prone to flooding.

NGOs in the regions are reporting that 500,000 people still needed to be rescued and that at least 60,000 people have also had their homes washed away in southern Nepal.

Correspondent Vikram Roy says that living conditions for the survivors were primitive.

"There are no toilets no sanitation no disinfectants. Nothing is available. Health experts and water resource management people on the ground say even if the water is received now it...will lead to the major outbreak of an epidemic," he told RFI.

At least 15 people drowned overnight Monday in two separate accidents involving overcrowded rescue boats saving villagers to safety, the French news agency AFP reported.

The dead included many children who were washed away by the strong currents still gushing through Supaul and Madhepura districts, two of the worst-hit areas.