Emergency in Assam hit by worst floods

"Please treat this (floods) as an emergency as this is the biggest flood in 50 years," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said in a letter of appeal for funds to the federal government.

"There may be further devastation in the coming days because flood-management structures throughout the state have been damaged by the two successive waves of floods this year," the letter warned.

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At least 3.7 million people have been displaced in more than two weeks of devastating floods in Assam, which have swamped more than 20 of the states 24 districts.

Officials reported another three flood-related drownings on Tuesday, taking the death toll in the state to 28 since a second wave of flooding began on June 27 following lashing monsoon rains.

"Two children and an elderly person died in separate incidents after their boats capsized on Tuesday in the northern Darrang and eastern Dhemaji districts of Assam," a police official told AFP.

"All three victims drowned while trying to move to safer areas when floodwaters inundated their homes."

The Assam government Wednesday sought urgent aid from United Nations agencies as it battled to cope with those displaced by the rising waters.

"We are in desperate need of tarpaulins, polythene sheets, water purifying tablets as well as mosquito nets and utensils for thousands of flood-trapped people," the chief minister told AFP.

"UNICEF has been approached and the response was positive. We expect to get the materials before the end of the week.

The state's main river, the Brahmaputra, burst its banks at several new places overnight, flooding fresh areas in the state, Assam flood control minister Nurzamal Sarkar said.