FLOODS have left hundreds of thousands of people stranded in north-east India and the east of Bangladesh, causing at least 15 deaths, officials and media reports said today.

At least 11 have been killed and thousands displaced from homes as floods and mudslides ravaged India’s north-eastern state of Tripura, bordering Bangladesh, since Wednesday.

Another four were killed in Bangladesh as upstream India and its downstream neighbour share rivers along their border.

India’s Meteorological Department issued a red alert in Tripura on Wednesday, forcing authorities to announce a two-day closure of schools after heavy rains inundated several regions, including the state capital Agartala.

Authorities have opened more than 300 relief camps in Tripura, with the number of people moving to them estimated to run into thousands.

Of the 11 dead since the rains intensified on Monday, seven were drowned or washed away, while four were buried by mudslides.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and are focusing on providing relief to those displaced from their homes,” said Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha.

In Bangladesh, a pregnant woman died after falling into raging waters at Akhaura in the Brahmanbaria district, Bengali-language Kal Bela newspaper reported. Three other people died from drowning and electrocution, it said.

The rains and the rising waters from upstream Tripura state devastated many areas in eastern Bangladesh. Many in the worst-hit districts such as Cumilla, Feni and Noakhali pleaded for rescue as power was cut and roads became unusable. 

Feni resident Sonia Akte said: “We have taken shelter at a house where about 35 people need to be rescued soon. The water is still rising and now we are on the rooftop with our small kids and elderly family members. Please send us a boat. Please save us.”

The Bangladesh Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre said that the water levels were still increasing in many rivers of the delta nation’s eastern, north-eastern and south-eastern regions.