Over two crore (20 million) people have been affected and 138 lives have been lost in the floods, which have hit Bihar's northern districts since the first week of July. All major rivers, including the Ganga, Gandhak, Kosi and Bagmati, are flowing above the danger mark.

Army personnel and helicopters have been deployed for rescue and relief operations but overall authorities have been finding it difficult to help affected people owing to the magnitude of the problem and their lack of preparation.

Some people did benefit though: 30 prisoners took advantage of the floods to escape from Darbhanga Jail.

Floods are a perennial problem in the state. Most of the water comes from rivers flowing through neighbouring Nepal. But India has not been able to thrash out a solution to this problem with the Himalayan kingdom.

Ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on July 16 announced that people in the flood-ravaged areas would be provided with foodgrains free of cost till the next cropping season. He should not have much trouble keeping that promise since the central United Progressive Alliance government is headed by its ally, the Congress party.

Meanwhile, the people of Bihar are waiting for the rivers to calm down and the waters to subside so they can piece together the parts of their lives.

Photograph: Getty Images