Flooding continues to devastate South Asia

Authorities say the number of people displaced by floods in northeastern India and Bangladesh has increased to about 1.5 million.

India's Assam state is currently experiencing the third flood of the year due to heavy rain during the last 4 days. The army evacuated about 800,000 people when the Brahmaputra river and its branches were at dangerous levels. Picture 1 of Flooding continues to devastate South Asia

Suburb of Assam state's Guwahati capital is submerged in water.(Photo: VNN)

Meanwhile in Bangladesh, officials say half a million people have been affected and many have evacuated to safer places.

"The worst floods"

In Assam state, thousands of houses, bridges, poles, telecommunications towers . were swept away and 13 people were killed. The national highway connecting Assam to the rest of the country is now flooded with more than a dozen locations. Thousands of trucks carrying essential supplies and buses carrying passengers are stuck on the road.

"This is the worst flood this year. The damage is tremendous," said Assam Dinesh Deka state government spokesman.

Mr. Deka said the new flood occurred when agriculture was reviving after two floods in July and August. "This third is a fatal blow to farmers who have just replanted crops after White hands from the previous flood. It will certainly affect agricultural production this year. "

Assam Bhumidhar Barman states the army has been summoned to take part in rescue work and deliver essential supplies to affected areas.

Since the annual rainy season began in June, about 50 people were killed in Assam and more than 12 million people were affected. In the state capital of Guwahati, some residential areas have been submerged by the water, causing many people to relocate to their relatives in higher lands.

Picture 2 of Flooding continues to devastate South Asia

About 50 people were killed in Assam since the rainy season began in June. (Photo: VNN)

In Bangladesh, the situation continues to be harsh with more than half a million people forced to leave their homes for refuge.

"You see, the whole village is flooded with water, we are suffering a lot, we have no food, houses are sunk, we are going through painful days , " Mofazzal Hossain, a local resident lamented.

This is the second worst flood in Bangladesh in less than a month. Landslides in some highways make traffic congested. The Regional Weather Office in Assam predicts rain will continue to rage in the coming days.

Since July, more than 2,000 people in eastern India and neighboring Bangladesh have died from snakebites, drowning, diarrhea and collapsed houses after many rivers broke their banks due to prolonged heavy rains.

Thanh Hao