Nearly five million people have been affected by severe flooding in India’s eastern Bihar State, with all seven major rivers in the region reportedly rising above danger levels following heavy rainfall.
The flooding, which began earlier this month, has submerged large areas of farmland and disrupted livelihoods across several communities.
According to Bihar’s Disaster Management Department, close to five million people have been affected by the disaster.
The state government said relief operations were underway in the worst-hit areas, with food, drinking water, medicines and other essential supplies being distributed to affected families.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said the government was working to ensure that residents in flood-hit communities received immediate assistance.
The state also reported that 7,000 rupees ($72) had been transferred to more than 827,000 affected families as part of the relief effort.
Bihar has opened 13 relief camps, while more than 1,000 community kitchens and nearly 1,800 boats have been deployed to support communities cut off by floodwaters.
Local media have reported 20 deaths since the flooding began.
The crisis has also left many residents struggling to secure food, clean water and income, with some families forced to take shelter on rooftops after floodwaters entered their homes.
Bihar, one of India’s most flood-prone states, lies downstream from Nepal, where deadly flooding occurred last month.
India’s federal government has deployed a team to assess the extent of damage and determine the additional assistance required.
Authorities said their priority was to ensure that every affected family received relief while reconstruction efforts were undertaken after the waters receded.
