More than 500,000 people have fled their homes in northeastern Assam to escape pre-rain floods that have engulfed seven people, authorities said Wednesday, as they warned the situation could worsen.
One of the world’s largest rivers, the Brahmaputra, which flows into India and Bangladesh from Tibet, burst its banks in Assam three days ago, filling more than 1,500 villages.
Torrential rains hit most of the affected areas, and heavy rains continued on Wednesday, with further estimates over the next two days.
“More than 500,000 people have been affected, and the flooding situation is getting worse by the hour,” Assam water resources minister Pijush Hazarika told Reuters, adding that seven drowned in separate incidents in the last three days.
Indian troops have recovered more than 2,000 XNUMX people trapped in the Hojai district in an ongoing rescue operation, said the country’s health minister, Keshab Mahanta.
Brahmaputra water levels are expected to rise further, state officials said.
“The situation remains very serious in the Dima Hasao district, both railways and roads that have been cut off by floods and landslides,” said Assam Revenue Minister Jogen Mohan, who oversaw relief efforts there.
Cities elsewhere in India, especially the capital, New Delhi, are experiencing a heat wave.