Millions affected as floods strike India's Bihar

Flooding in India's eastern Bihar state has affected nearly five million people, officials said on Tuesday, as aid was sent to the worst-hit areas. Bihar is among India's most flood-prone states, and all seven of its key rivers measured above "danger level" on Tuesday after heavy rain.

How many people have the Bihar floods affected?

Nearly five million people have been affected, according to figures from Bihar's Disaster Management Department. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said 7,000 rupees, around $72, had been transferred to more than 827,000 flood-affected families to help them cope with the damage.

Flooding began this month, and local media have reported 20 deaths while officials said swaths of farmland have been swamped. Bihar sits downstream from Nepal, which suffered deadly flooding of its own last month.

What relief is the government providing to flood victims?

Bihar's deputy chief minister, Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, said food, clean drinking water, medicines and other essential facilities were being continuously provided to needy families. Choudhary said the government's priority was ensuring every affected family gets flood relief, with reconstruction carried out in a spirit of "building back better."

The state's coalition government, which includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, said it had opened 13 relief camps. More than 1,000 community kitchens and nearly 1,800 boats have been deployed in flood-hit areas, and Modi has sent a federal team to assess the damage.

How are Bihar residents coping with the floods?

Chandan Kumar Mahto, 46, a resident of Saran district, said flooding has become an annual fate that leaves families struggling for food, safe drinking water and milk for children. Lakhmania Devi, 42, from Vaishali district, said she and her family took shelter on their roof after floodwaters entered their home, and now live like nomads without a kitchen.

Hari Mandal, 28, a laborer from Ghogha village in Bhagalpur district, said he could not work because of the flooding. He said he would go without food if the crisis continued, since he has no savings left to survive on.