Assam, Bihar flood situation grim |
The flood situation in Indian states of Bihar and Assam has worsened as the death toll mounted to 197, with a total of 12.4 million people affected by the calamity in the two states. According to sources, after a brief let up in the situation, Bihar has been receiving above normal rainfall for the past couple of days and the situation worsened. The toll in Bihar rose to 123 on Wednesday with the deaths of 17 people, while the deluge in Assam claimed six more lives taking the total figure to 74. According to the state disaster management department in Bihar, the death toll in the worst-affected Sitamarhi district rose to 37 from 27. Five more people died in Madhubani, raising the toll to 30, while in Muzaffarpur the figure rose from two to four. The department has put the total number of people affected by the floods at 8.16 million in 105 blocks of 12 districts. Lightning during rainfall has only worsened the situation for the people trying to get to dryer places. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, flood waters have inundated vast swathes of 20 of all 33 districts in the state, affecting 38.82 lakh people.
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