Assam: India floods destroy millions of homes and dreams

India

“There was water everywhere, but not a single drop to drink.” That is how Ronju Chowdhary described the scene outside her house on Saturday. She lives in Udiana, a remote village in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam, which has been hit by severe floods. It had been raining incessantly, she remembers. The water rose so quickly that the streets were completely submerged within hours. When the water entered their home, she says the family huddled together in darkness trying to keep themselves safe.  Two days on, the family is still marooned in their house – now resembling a lonely island – amid a sea of water. “We are surrounded by flood water from all sides. There’s hardly any water to drink. Food is running short too. And now I hear that the water levels are further rising,” Ms Chowdhary says. “What will happen to us?”(BBC)…[+]