Devastating South Asia flooding displaces millions, over 100 dead

By MiNDFOOD

Members of Nepalese army on a boat head to rescue residents at a flooded colony in Kathmandu, Nepal July 12, 2019. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar - RC1F1FAC6DE0
Members of Nepalese army on a boat head to rescue residents at a flooded colony in Kathmandu, Nepal July 12, 2019. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar - RC1F1FAC6DE0
South Asia flooding: More than 100 people have been confirmed dead as 6 million are affected by extreme weather and landslides.

Heavy monsoon rains over the past week have left many dead in Nepal and Bangladesh, and submerged vast areas of north-east India.

South Asia flooding
Members of Nepalese army on a boat head to rescue residents at a flooded colony in Kathmandu, Nepal July 12, 2019. Photo Credit: REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

After causing flooding and landslides in Nepal, three rivers are overflowing in northern India and submerging parts of Bihar state, killing at least 14 people, officials said Monday.

Further east, 17 others were killed by flooding in Assam and other states in India’s remote northeast.

Nepal appears the worst hit so far, with at least 78 people dead, officials said on Tuesday. A further 29 have died in the northeastern Indian states of Bihar and Assam.

South Asia flooding
Girls row a makeshift raft past submerged houses at a flood-affected village in Karbi Anglong district, in the northeastern state of Assam, India, July 11, 2019. Photo Credit: REUTERS/Anuwar Hazarika 

Flash floods have also ripped through Pakistan and Bangladesh, which border India on the east and west, respectively. 28 have died in Pakistan, and 16 in Bangladesh, according to authorities from each country.

More than 6.7 million people in India have been directly affected by the floods, according to CNN – about 2.5 million in Bihar and 4.2 million in Assam.

South Asia flooding
Villagers are transported on a boat towards a safer place at a flooded village in Nagaon district, in the northeastern state of Assam, India July 15, 2019. Photo Credit: REUTERS/Anuwar Hazarika

Monsoon rains hit the region in June-September. The rains are crucial for rain-fed crops planted during the season, but can be devastating in extreme cases such as this one.

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