ASSAM STATE, INDIA 8 JULY, 1974 (REUTERS - DURGADAS CHATTERJI)

SV Indians rowing through floodwaters (2 shots).

Gv Reed huts partly submerged (2 shots)

GV PAN Across floodwaters

SV Cattle marooned on sandbars (2 shots).

SV Women with children.

GV TRACKING shot along floodwaters

GV Huts almost submerged (3 shots)

SV Children in floodwaters.

SV Women and children climbing into boat (2 shots)

SV Boats drawing away from shore (2 shots).
Background: Scores of people have died and tens of thousands are homeless after severe floods in the north-east of India. In the city of Bombay - which recorded its heaviest downpour in 100 years - 50 people have drowned. In Assam, officials report that the Brahmaputra River has flooded over about a quarter of a million acres (100,000 hectares).

In that state, 13 deaths have been reported. Fifteen hundred families have been evacuated and are sheltering in temporary camps set up in schools and other public buildings. In addition, thousands of cattle have perished in the floods.

Government officials on Sunday (7 July) said the situation was grave. Most rivers were still above the danger level, bridges had been washed away and many roads were under water.

In many areas, food was being dropped from the air, but when this film was shot... about 100 miles from the Assam State capital of Gauhati... relief supplies still had not arrived.

Most of the flooded villages had been evacuated and the few stranded people remaining were gradually being taken away in small boats. They salvaged what belongings they could...and where possible, took their cattle with them.

SYNOPSIS: Severe floods have hit the north-eastern States of India. Already the floods have claimed scores of lives and tens of thousands of people have been made homeless.

One of the Stats hardest hit is Assam, where this film was shot. These villages are about a hundred miles from the State capital, Gauhati, where the Brahmaputra River has burst its banks.

The flooded river has submerged about a quarter of a million acres.

Thousands of cattle have perished in the floods, but some have escaped to high ground.

In Assam, about fifteen hundred people lost their homes during the monsoons, which have brought up to twenty inches of rain in a shingle day in some areas.

Government officials said on Sunday that the position was grave. The Brahmaputra was still rising and was above the danger level. Bridges had been washed away and many roads were under water.

Most of the displaced families have already been rehoused in schools and other Government buildings. The few remaining refugees were rescued by boast. They took as many personal belongings as they could salvage, and some even took surviving livestock.

In many areas, food was flown in, but in Assam relief supplies still had not arrived when this film was shot. Flood victims were largely fending for themselves.