Christian Aid has responded rapidly to the crisis in India, providing emergency food, medicine and other vital support to those made homeless and forced to flee in the floods in Bihar which are the worst for 50 years.

The £200,000 initial emergency funding is being distributed to Christian Aid's several partner organisations who are undertaking needs assessments, distributing emergency food, setting up community kitchens, providing medical aid and taking steps to prevent the outbreak of waterborne disease.

The flooding began last week when the Kosi River breached a dam on the Nepal-India border and huge waves of water washed through villages and fields, creating a major disaster in north eastern Bihar. The flooding is the worst to hit the state for 50 years.

More than 2.5 million people have been marooned by the floodwater and a thousand villages are estimated to be submerged in fifteen districts. The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has declared the situation a "national calamity".

The government has ordered the immediate evacuation of two million people in the worst affected districts in the northern state, which is the poorest in India.

"Our partners are very experienced; they responded immediately after the floods last year and they are already working on the ground," said Anand Kumar, Christian Aid's representative in India.

Christian Aid partner, CASA, has offices in Bihar and through its network of field offices is feeding 5,000 people.

EHA, a health-based partner based in Madhepura town, is looking after thousands of people who are stranded on high ground, providing food, medical aid and taking measures to prevent the outbreak of water-borne diseases. It has also set up community kitchens.

JUDAV, an activists-based organisation, is providing food to a thousand people in two districts. They are also working with the local government to ensure the speedy implementation of rescue and relief programmes for the those affected.

"The government has ordered the evacuation of the Araria and Katihar districts and it is likely they will do so for two more districts," said Mr Kumar. "This is an unprecedented disaster which will require both immediate and long-term assistance."

Santosh Jha from the Supaul district of Bihar described the horror and devastation the floods had brought to him: "I have never seen as many bodies as I have witnessed in the last seven days. Up to now, I must have come across 250 bodies of all ages. It is just a nightmare."

Muhammed Quayyum, also from Supaul district said that five children had died recently in a hamlet nearby. "Hundreds of people are marooned and have survived with nothing for the last seven days. I am not sure how long they will be able to resist death."

Roads, railway lines and food crops have been washed away. Water and electricity supplies have been affected. Over 5,000 schools in the region have been washed away. It's estimated 250,000 homes have been destroyed leaving 3.5 million people homeless.

There are reports of bodies and animal carcasses in the flood waters which are increasing fears of outbreaks of disease and diarrhoea. As the flood water recedes into the River Ganga, the death toll is likely to increase.

Tearfund partner organisations Eficor, Discipleship Centre and Emmanuel Hospital Association have meanwhile been distributing food to relief camps.

Three of the 15 districts affected by the floods - Madhepura, Supaul and Saharsa - are completely covered by water.

"The water has inundated the area so much that no land in these places is showing," said Prince David, from Tearfund in Delhi.

There are also reports that there is no telephone communication in the region, making communication and reaching communities difficult.

"Because the river burst its banks with such force and actually changed course, many regions were completely covered by the flooding," said David. "Now, our worry is of risk of disease spreading."

David Bainbridge, Tearfund's Disaster Management Director said: "The scale of this disaster is immense. Through the efforts of our partners on the ground we will continue to provide food and immediate support and address the longer term needs of those affected."