Floods hit northeast India, washing away over 300 villages

NEW DELHI, July 5 : Monsoon floods have now hit the northeastern Indian state of Assam, washing away more than 300 villages, just days after the natural calamity devastated the northern state of Uttarakhand, killing thousands, a senior government official said Thursday.

"Heavy rains have triggered flash floods which swept away 300 villages across eight districts of the state, located on the banks of overflowing Brahmaputra river, displacing thousands and destroying crops. There have been no reports of any casualty yet," he said.

The state government has started rescue and rehabilitation operations, the official said.

Heavy rainfall triggered flash floods and landslides, sweeping away towns and roads, in Uttarakhand last month. Some 10,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the floods.