India and Nepal play blame game over Bihar floods

06/09/2008 09:06:40

Officials in India and Nepal are blaming each other for the devastating floods in Bihar.

Claire Mackay reports the floods have left more than three million people homeless.

The flooding started when the Kosi river burst an embankment in southern Nepal.

India has long been responsible for maintaining the embankment to protect people living down stream in Bihar. Nepal says the Bihar flooding is the result of India neglecting its duty.

An Indian Embassy spokesman from Kathmandu says engineers knew there was a problem in the flood defences in April but Nepalese officials physically prevented them from fixing it.

Local activists and the group Transparency International say widespread bribery and corruption on both sides is to blame.

Tens of thousands of people are still stranded in the flooded state. And the relief effort is expected to go on for many months.

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