Indian flood victims hold demonstration against govt's failure to prevent disaster

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GUWAHATI, (India), Sept 9 (Reuters) Fresh monsoon flooding brought more death and distress across South Asia Tuesday, while many of the hundreds of thousands of flood victims in relief camps complained of poor facilities. brSeven people drowned when overnight rains caused more flooding in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, raising the death toll to 25 since the Brahamaputra river burst its banks and submerged villages last week.brThousands of angry villagers in Assam took to the streets on Tuesday to protest against the government's failure to prevent the disaster.brThey accused authorities of not preventing erosion along the banks of the Brahamaputra, one of Asia's largest rivers.brAt least 1,000 people have drowned or died in house collapses or from snake bites across South Asia this monsoon season.brAuthorities in the flood-hit Indian state of Bihar pulled out six of the 11 military helicopters from relief operations, saying evacuations were nearly over.brWe think there is not much requirement for helicopters at the moment, Bihar Disaster Management Minister Nitish Mishra told Reuters.brThe Kosi river, which originates in Nepal, burst a dam last month and unleashed the worst flooding in 50 years. About three million people have been displaced from their homes in Bihar and some 900,000 people have been evacuated to relief camps.brOf those evacuated to the camps, about 15,000-20,000 people went back home to protect belongings, complaining of filth and sickness in the camps.brI have not taken a bath for the last 20 days since I don't have a spare sari ... It's a hell, said 25-year-old Ketaki Devi of Madhepura district said after leaving one of the camps.brIndian media and flood experts have criticized the government's response to the crisis as weak and ineffective.