Floods hit 20 million

Millions have been hit in West Bengal

By Jill McGivering in West Bengal

A quarter of Bangladesh is under water as floods in the country and in north-east India cause misery for about 20 million people.

In many villages people were perched on trees

Reporter Ayub Hossain

Three million people in Bangladesh have been marooned and hundreds of others are missing in the worst floods for 22 years.

About 16 million are thought to have been hit by the floods in the Indian state of West Bengal alone, with many families living on roof tops.

The number of dead there is now 758, and officials are warning that the floods could get even worse with heavy rainfall predicted in a few days time.

In West Bengal, whole districts close to the border with Bangladesh have disappeared under 10ft of water and tens of thousands of local people have fled the area by foot and truck.

The authorities have called in the Indian army to rescue the stranded by boat and distribute emergency aid.

Appeal for help

Reporter Ayub Hossain, who visited some of the flooded areas in the western district of Jessore, 300 km (190 miles) south west of Dhaka, said: "In many villages people were perched on trees or on top of their houses with floodwater reaching up to their window levels.

Tens of thousands have fled

"They cry out for help at the sight of anyone passing by in boats, but to no avail as the boats are already full."

Bangladesh has appealed for help from the international community in dealing with the crisis.

About 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) of rice, vegetables, betel leaf vines and fruit gardens have been damaged.

Some religious and community groups have been handing out food, but it is not enough to meet the need.