When a dam broke in the Saptakoshi River in Nepal last month, it led to massive flooding in neighbouring Bihar, India, where more than two million people have been flooded out of their homes.
And Gospel for Asia (GFA) missionaries in the impoverished state find themselves among the victims, even as they struggle to help their countrymen.
GFA President KP Yohannan said on Saturday that at least 200 of the group's churches and missionaries in the region were completely under water.
"We are still waiting to receive reports about how badly this disaster has affected our work, but I have no doubt that the results will be serious."
Dr Yohannan said that despite the difficulties, GFA Compassion Services teams will be dispatched as soon as possible to bring emergency aid to the victims.
GFA missionaries Premal Lokprakash and Hetal Masih report that the water rose four feet in some places as floods engulfed the Supaul, Araria and Madhepura districts of Bihar. Missionaries Mitali Raut and Binod Digal report that many in their area are stranded on the roofs of their homes, and that the water level continues to rise as the heavy rains pour down.
The flooding began when a dam on the Saptakoshi River in Nepal gave way. The strength of the rushing water caused the river to carve out a new channel 75 miles east of its usual riverbed where it runs through Bihar. In India, it is called the Kosi River.
