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India floods kill 30, displace 1 milllion

01 July 2012 04:58 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. At least 30 people have been killed and over 1 million others displaced as torrential rains and massive floods hit Indiaâ€™s northeastern state of Assam,APA reports quoting Press TV.

Heavy monsoon rains have caused the banks of the Brahmaputra River -- one of Asiaâ€™s largest -- to overflow and inundate more than 2,000 villages across Assam, according to the flood control center in the state capital Gauhati.

Indian Air Force helicopters have been delivering food and dropping off relief workers to affected areas over the past two days.

The floods also submerged large swathes of a national wildlife reserve, the Kaziranga National Park, which is home to more than 2,000 of the estimated 3,000 one-horn rhinos left in the wild.

Officials said wildlife wardens have been put on high alert to prevent poaching of animals leaving the park.

The heavy rains eased Saturday after more than a week, but more light rain is forecast for Sunday.

This yearâ€™s flooding is the worst to hit Assam in many years.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has announced a compensation plan for the families of the deceased.