Riding out the rains

A lone cyclist seems almost submerged in his surroundings as he rides along a flooded road on the outskirts of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, north India.

At least nine people have died in the state and another 15 in eastern Bihar over the past two days as floods hit rural areas as well as some cities, disaster management officials said.

A total of 130,000 people are sheltering in relief camps across the two states, officials there told Agence France-Presse.

Additional emergency workers have been deployed to help with rescue and relief efforts.

The massive flooding in Bihar has affected over 2.9 million people, with water inundating several areas. According to officials, of the state's 38 districts, 24 are affected by flood waters. More than 100,000 people have left their homes there and in Uttar Pradesh in recent days as rain-swollen rivers, including the Ganges, burst their banks. Schools will remain closed for some time.

Floods across large swathes of India have killed at least 40 people and displaced tens of thousands.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 27, 2016, with the headline Riding out the rains. Subscribe