Bihar, One month later - Giulio di Sturco - Italy

In late August, the Kosi River in India overflowed its banks in the state of Bihar after severe monsoon rains caused a dam to burst in neighboring Nepal, triggering what officials are calling the worst floods in 50 years.
Top View shows the flood-affected Madhepura district in India's northeastern state of Bihar. India was grappling with the task of feeding and housing close to a million villagers displaced by huge floods in the eastern state of Bihar, as the rescue effort wound down. Some 900,000 people fled from their homes or were evacuated by boat since the Kosi river breached its defences three weeks ago on the Nepal border and changed course.

© Giulio di Sturco, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009

Sony World Photography Awards 2009
Professional competition
Contemporary issues category
Shorlisted image