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BBC News Online: World: South Asia


Sunday, 6 August, 2000, 15:15 GMT 16:15 UK

Flood havoc in north-east India


Victims evacuation
More than 100 people have died in landslides and floods in Bhutan and the neighbouring Indian states of Assam and West Bengal in the last two days.

Map showing Assam
Officials say many more are missing.

More than two million people are now believed to be homeless because of the floods.

The army has been called out in both the Indian states and also in Bhutan, where 87 people have died in landslides since late on Friday.

Bhutanese officials said massive landslides have struck an area in excess of 60 kilometres between Chhukha and Kharbanda township in the south.

Region isolated

Road communications between the capital, Thimphu, and the country's south have been cut off .

Shantipur, 100 kms. north of Calcutta
Power lines have been washed away and many buildings are under water.

A state official told the AFP news agency that Assam's major highway and railway tracks were submerged.

Troops have mounted relief and rescue operations and helicopters have been dropping food into isolated areas.

Further flooding is expected as all rivers in north-east India are flowing at above normal levels.

Thousands of stranded people have been rescued by soldiers in the northeastern state of Assam, where rising waters of the Brahmaputra river have inundated more than 2,000 villages.



The whole region is completely cut off
Assam official Manoj Deb

Air force helicopters made more than two dozen sorties to drop food to those still stranded.

"Thousands have set up temporary homes along the highway," a rescue worker said.

Railway authorities, meanwhile, have been working to repair damaged tracks and restore rail links.

Bihar suffers

Floods have also caused death and destruction in the eastern state of Bihar.

Fflood-affected town of Bihapara, India
Nearly a million people spread over hundreds of villages have been affected.

Reports say crops valued at 84 million rupees ($1.88 million) have been damaged and some 3,000 houses destroyed.

Helicopters and army boats are being pressed into service as part of a massive relief operation.

More than 100 people died last week in flash floods which hit the northern state of Himachal Pradesh.

India's neighbours - Nepal and Bangladesh - have also been affected.


Related to this story:
Flood disaster in India (04 Aug 00 | South Asia)
150 die in Indian flash floods (02 Aug 00 | South Asia)
Flood causes damage in India (13 Jun 00 | South Asia)


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