Dhaka - Massive floods ravaged northeastern India and Bangladesh, leaving millions of homes underwater and severing transport links and killing atleast 18 people, authorities said Saturday.

In India’s state of Assam, nine people were killed in the floods and 2 million saw their homes submerged, according to the state disaster management agency.

In parts of neighboring Bangladesh, nine people were killed in lightning strikes on Friday.

Both countries have sought help from militaries as more flooding looms with rains expected to continue over the weekend.

The Brahmaputra, one of Asia’s largest rivers, breached its mud embankments, inundating 3,000 villages and croplands in 28 of Assam’s 33 districts.

“We expect moderate to heavy rainfall in several parts of Assam till Sunday. The volume of rainfall has been unprecedented,” said Sanjay O’Neil, an official at the meteorological station in Gauhati, Assam’s capital.
-AP