300 dead and over 6m affected in torrential flooding

Heavy rains have caused Ganges river and its tributaries to burst their banks forcing residents to is seek refuge in camps in the central and Eastern states of India including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Madya Pradesh.

According to local government officials, this is the worst flooding with over 5 million affected and over 300 dead. The flood waters engulfed low-lying areas and have been shifting people to safe high grounds. In Uttar Pradesh 43 died and over 1 million affected. Schools and colleges were closed in the cities of Varanasi and Allahabad as Ganges and Yamuna rivers crossed danger levels and floodwater continued to rise. In Madhya Pradesh 70 have died and over 50,000 homes destroyed.

The Indian Meteorological Department has forecast more rains in central India over the next two days.

This is the monsoon season for India from June to September which is essential for its agriculture which provided employments for nearly 5 billion population.