NEW DELHI, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least 41 people have died in floods in the eastern Indian state of Bihar in the past three days, a top government official said Monday.
More than 6 million people have been affected in 12 districts of Bihar in the floods triggered by heavy rains that hit the state as well as the neighboring country of Nepal since Friday. Out of these, some two million have also been displaced in the floods.
"So far, 41 people have died in floods. These deaths have occurred mainly in some seven districts of the state," principal secretary of the disaster management department Pratyay Amrit told the media.
"Some 20 people have died in Araria district, six in Sitamarhi, five in Kisanganj and three each in East Champaran, West Champaran and Darbhanga districts, and one in Madhubani district. An estimated six million population of 12 districts are also affected by floods," he added.
Local TV channels showed footage of Bihar's Chief Minister Nitish Kumar carrying out an aerial survey of the worst-hit districts.
The Indian Army has been called in to assist the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel in rescuing people from the flood-hit districts.
"Besides, Army column sent to Purnea, four teams of NDRF have arrived in Bihar Sunday and six more NDRF teams landed Monday to assist state to take up relief work on a war footing," the chief minister said.
