India battles floodwaters

By Jill McGivering BBC South Asia correspondent

Officials in India's north eastern state of Assam say about 250,000 people have been made homeless by heavy flooding in the state.

Local reports from the area describe a pattern of flash floods caused by heavy rainfall which can quickly recede.

Emergency food relief is now being handed out by the government to people displaced by the waters.

Major rivers in the region are prone to flood at this time of year

In just one of the worst affected districts, Dhemaji, officials say about 30,000 people have been displaced from flooded villages.

Many are now sheltering in relief camps receiving emergency government supplies of rice.

Local reports say that here, and in some other affected districts, floodwaters are already starting to recede.

Repair work has now started on damaged roads.

A flood control official in Assam told the BBC the situation was stable but not critical.

Floodwaters have risen above the danger level in one or two places, he said, but it is only considered critical when water is more than a metre above the danger level.

More rain predicted

But there are concerns the situation could still worsen.

Assam's chief secretary told the BBC that the state government was alarmed by weather forecasts predicting more heavy rainfall in the upper reaches of the main rivers.

If that happened, he said, the flood situation could become serious.

Army units in the state have been put on alert but have not yet been deployed to help with rescue work.

Rivers rising elsewhere

Meanwhile in the northern state of Bihar, about 200,000 people were also affected as rivers there reached the danger level.

Hundreds of people have fled to higher ground.

There has not been any report of loss of life.

This region is prone to flash floods at this time of year.

The steady silting of river beds, increased density of population, especially in flood plains, and increased rainfall, have all been cited in the past as possible contributing factors.