Bihar flood: Christian Aid sends emergency funds

In Bihar, the toll rose to 90 on Sunday with five more people drowning after devastating floods caused by the Kosi River resulted in the inundation of thousands of villages in 15 districts.

More than a million people have been left homeless and scores killed in Bihar, one of the poorest regions in India, over the past two weeks. It is thought that nearly 700,000 people have been marooned and an estimated 3 million affected in five districts of the state.

Christian Aid, one of the biggest international development agencies meanwhile has released an initial £100,000 to its partner organisations in the country as a massive rescue and relief operation gets underway.

“Our partners are hugely experienced; they responded immediately after the floods last year and they are already working on the ground,” said Anand Kumar, Christian Aid's representative in India.

Christian Aid partner, CASA, has offices in Bihar and through its network of field offices is feeding 5,000 people. It has extensive experience in working in emergencies.

While official sources are yet to confirm the death toll, the charity ActionAid said that at least 2,000 people have been killed by the flood – an estimate based on reports from its own field workers.

Several aid agencies have also complained of lack of boats, rescuers to provide aid. Bad weather and heavy rain have hampered the relief operations, in one of the worst ever floods to hit Bihar in 50 years.

More than 350,000 people have been evacuated over the past 11 days, officials said, admitting they did not have enough boats or resources to step up relief operations.