This archive report was first published on 14 July 2020.
Published on July 14, 2020, the monsoon season, which typically runs from June to September, is crucial to the Indian sub-continent's economy but also brings devastating floods each year.
According to Bangladesh's Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre chief Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, the current situation is expected to be the worst flood in a decade.
The heavy rains have caused the Brahmaputra and Ganges rivers, which flow through India and Bangladesh, to swell, affecting a significant portion of the country.
At least 1.5 million people have been affected, with many village homes and roads flooded, and over 15,000 people have fled severely affected areas.
With a 10-day forecast indicating rising waters, Bhuiyan warned that if more rivers burst their banks, up to 40% of the nation could be flooded in a worst-case scenario.
Neighboring countries, including Assam in northeast India and Nepal, have also been affected, with over 2.1 million people impacted in Assam and at least 50 people dead in Nepal.
