Over 4 million people affected by floods in eastern India

PATNA, Sep 10: More than four million people have been affected by flooding in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, officials said Thursday, as several rivers continued to flow above danger levels.

According to the Bihar Disaster Management Department, around 4.3 million people across 14 districts have been impacted by the floods.

The worst-affected districts include Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai and Buxar, officials said.

With several rivers still flowing above the danger mark, authorities have stepped up relief operations. A total of 951 community kitchens are currently operating in affected areas to provide food to flood victims.

Meanwhile, 15 relief camps are providing accommodation, food, medical care and other essential facilities to 11,255 people displaced by the flooding, state broadcaster DD News reported.

Authorities have also deployed multiple teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) across several districts to strengthen rescue and relief operations amid the possibility of further flooding.

India experiences heavy monsoon rainfall between June and September each year, frequently triggering floods and landslides and causing widespread damage to homes, infrastructure and property.

Since July, heavy rains have triggered flooding and landslides in several parts of the country.