Disease Fears Shadow Flood Victims

(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. More»

Millions are displaced; huge areas are underwater

(NEWSER) - Some of the worst flooding in living memory has hit Northern India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, where three weeks of heavy rains have caused rivers to rise as much as 30 feet. Over 12 million acres of farmland is underwater, and almost 20 million people have been displaced. More»

Villagers turning desperate, living on uncooked rice and polluted water

(NEWSER) - Rescue helicopters are trying to save villagers in India after a dam flooded thousands of towns this month, killing 85, displacing 2 million, and wrecking a quarter-million acres of farmland, the Daily Telegraph reports. Torrential rain kept helicopters grounded for most of yesterday as one boat capsized, killing 20. “These are some of the worst floods in generations,” a UNICEF director said. More»

Nearly 500 dead, thousands ill as waters recede

(NEWSER) - Nearly 500 people have died in Bangladesh as devastating floods hit the low-lying country in recent weeks, Reuters reports. 38 died last night, including two from water-borne diseases that have sickened thousands more. Flood waters have receded, but millions remain homeless. "They hardly have a roof on their heads or anything to eat," an official said. More»

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

(NEWSER) - Millions in South Asia experienced relief today as the rains relented and rivers in flooded regions started receding. The death toll stands at 169 in India and 120 in Bangladesh, where 200,000 started returning to their homes in the northeastern state of Assam. Some 14 million are displaced in India, the AP reports, as are 5 million in Bangladesh. More»