Indian River of Sorrow' Threatens More Floods

PATNA, India: Rising rivers in eastern India swamped new areas and destroyed homes on Tuesday, affecting more than 2 million people, as some frustrated villagers beat up officials and others remained glued to radio weather bulletins. Torrential rains have killed more than 1,000 people in South Asia since the monsoon began in June, mainly in India's states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh but also in Nepal and Bangladesh. The Koshi river in the eastern state of Bihar, one of India's poorest regions, has broken its mud embankments in several places. The river also broke a dam in neighbouring Nepal, worsening the floods, Bihar officials said. The death toll in the state rose to 42 after 12 more villagers drowned in swirling waters. "Many villagers are still trapped and stranded at various places and our challenge is to save their lives," Nitish Mishra, a government official said.

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YouTube | August 27, 2008

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