Fulhar river flood affects 30,000 people in West Bengal

New Delhi, Aug. 26 (ANI): Over 30,000 people have been affected as the Fulhar river breached its banks in West Bengal on Sunday.

Over 22 villages have been washed away after an embankment broke off.

The river water is gushing inside Valuka bazaar, Rajidpur, Durgapur and Balipur for the last two days.

Hundreds of houses and fields have been submerged under the floodwater.

Displaced families have taken shelter in the highland areas.

"After our house was destroyed we have no place for shelter and no idea where to head. Our houses are submerged in the floodwater. We have come on the highland area along with few of our belongings," said Jharna Mahardar, an affected villager of Rajidpur.

The 25-year-old embankment that got washed away was made of sandbags and bamboo.

South Asia is suffering from an unusually erratic annual monsoon rains this year, with India seeing the driest June in 83 years and a wetter than usual July, and conditions across the region varying from floods to drought. (ANI)