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Food Dropped to Indian Villagers

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 4, 2007 6:24 PM CDT

(Newser) – Helicopters dropped food today to some two million Indian villagers left stranded by heavy monsoon rains, the AP reports. Floods in South Asia have driven 19 million from their homes and left hundreds dead. Villagers have been killed by collapsing houses, violent waters and even panicked rhinos as neck-deep water forced them out of game preserves.

Helicopter pilots saw women and children screaming for help in treetops as food was dropped below. A top regional official said that the Indian government has “turned a blind eye” to annual flooding, noting that India and Nepal signed a treaty in 1996 to build dams and hydropower projects, but nothing has been done.

Forestry officials board a country boat to move to dry land after flood waters submerged their office in Pobitora wildlife sanctuary, about 55 kilometers (34 miles) east of Gauhati, India, Friday, July... (Associated Press)

Indian Air Force crew, drop packages of food and relief materials at the flood affected areas at Sabang village (about 150 kilometers, 93.20 miles west of Calcutta) in west Midnapore district of eastern... (Associated Press)

Villagers run to collect relief materials dropped by Indian Air Force crew, unseen, at the flood affected areas at Sabang village (about 150 kilometers, 93.20 miles west of Calcutta) in west Midnapore... (Associated Press)

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Disease Fears Shadow Flood Victims

Relief workers struggle to supply food, medicine to waterlogged South Asia

Floods Devastate South Asia

Millions are displaced; huge areas are underwater

Rivers Recede in Flooded South Asia

Helicopters continue food drops as death tolls climb in India, Bangladesh

India Struggles to Save Millions in Flood

Villagers turning desperate, living on uncooked rice and polluted water

Study Sees Wal-Mart in India's Future

But government can help mom-and-pop outfits get organized for future

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

food • India • flood • Nepal • Bangladesh • monsoon • South Asia • dam

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Disease Fears Shadow Flood Victims

Relief workers struggle to supply food, medicine to waterlogged South Asia

Floods Devastate South Asia

Millions are displaced; huge areas are underwater

Rivers Recede in Flooded South Asia

Helicopters continue food drops as death tolls climb in India, Bangladesh

India Struggles to Save Millions in Flood

Villagers turning desperate, living on uncooked rice and polluted water

Study Sees Wal-Mart in India's Future

But government can help mom-and-pop outfits get organized for future

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?