Indian officials are in a race against time to rescue hundreds of thousands of people displaced by flooding in the state of Bihar

Many of the flood victims have been left stranded without homes, food and clean drinking water

The Indian government has sent in thousands of troops, helicopters and boats to help with the rescue effort

Bihar Flood Image

Scenes of chaos have been witnessed, with fights breaking out as people tried to board overcrowded rescue boats

The curse of Kosi

One of the worst hit districts is Purnia where houses have completely submerged under water. People living here are facing a tough time

People reach for safer places in the flood affected area of Saharsa, near River Kosi in north Bihar

Bihar Flood Image

The flooding began after the Kosi River - known as the River of Sorrow - breached its banks, sending huge waves of water through a channel it had previously abandoned

Bihar Flood Image

Bihar Flood Image

Bihar Flood Image