NEW DELHI: Authorities in the eastern Indian state of Bihar Monday said seven people were killed and over 4 million others were affected by the ongoing flooding.

Reports said standing crops spread over 8 million hectares have also been damaged due to the floodwater.

According to officials at the Bihar disaster management department (BDMD), the floods have hit the state’s 26 districts including the capital city Patna.

“Over 40 lakh (4 million) people spread over 26 districts including Patna, Katihar, Khagaria and Samastipur are reeling under the impact of flood,” state-run broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) said. “Several rivers including Ganga, Sone, Punpun and Kosi are flowing above the danger mark and are maintaining rising trend.”

Authorities have pressed rescue teams belonging to disaster response forces and boats in the affected areas to carry out rescue work.

“People are being ferried to safer locations in boats, besides this, we have made arrangements for proving food to the affected people in the makeshift shelters,” an official at BDMD told Xinhua.

Meanwhile, vehicular traffic and rail service have been disrupted in flood-affected areas.

“Train services on Bhagalpur-Munger section and Kiul-Bhagalpur section have been suspended on the second consecutive day due to submergence of railway tracks at several places. Long route trains have been diverted on alternative routes,” the official said.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said all possible assistance was being provided to flood-affected people.-Xinhua