Standing on the ground, it is impossible to gauge the full scope of a disaster the size of the Kosi River floods in northeastern India. On August 18, 2008, the river, swollen with monsoon rains, burst through an embankment into an old channel. By September 2, the river’s course still took it over populated land that had not been prone to flooding in the past. To grasp the full extent of this flood, you need the view from space.
Published Sep 6, 2008
