Wild animals attack flood victims

From correspondents in Patna, India

August 16, 2007 08:34pm

Article from: Reuters

FLOOD victims fought off hungry animals and battled waterborne diseases in South Asia today as unrelenting monsoon rains caused fresh flooding in the region, already battered by weeks of bad weather.

The death toll in eastern India alone rose by over 100 in the past week with thousands more marooned or made homeless as bloated rivers burst mud embankments.

Authorities across South Asia – where around 850 people have drowned, been crushed by landslides or died from snakebite and waterborne infections since mid-July – said they were struggling to help millions of victims.

For some in the impoverished Indian state of Bihar, it is a struggle for survival as jackals and monkeys have attacked dozens of villagers over the past few days.

"Wild animals like jackals and monkeys are biting our wives and children and snatching bread from their hands," said Lalan Raut from the flood-hit Madhubani district.

"They are on a looting spree and are killing our goats and small rabbits."

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