Three Lakh People Affected by Floods in Bihar

Patna: After torrential rain in the Terai regions of Bihar and Nepal, the water level in all major rivers of the state has risen. With several rivers flowing above the danger mark, nearly three lakh people in eight districts have been affected by the deluge.

Relief and rescue operations are on in the flood- affected areas. However, the Opposition alleged that relief has been left to God and the affected people have also been left in the lurch. 

According to the Bihar water resources department, the Bagmati river was flowing above the danger mark on Monday at Dhang, Sonakhan, Dubadhar in Sitamarhi, Katunjha and Muzaffarpur in Beniabad, and Hayaghat in Darbhanga while the Budhi Gandak river, near the Rosra rail bridge in Samastipur, was also flowing above the danger mark.

The water level of the Kamla Balan river crossed the danger mark at Jhanjharpur and Dhengraghat in Mahananda Purnia. Though the water level in the Kosi river remained stable, the Gandak river was in spate. 

The water level of Kosi, near Veerpur barrage, was rising on Monday. The water level of the Gandak river, near the Balmikinagar barrage, was also rising.

Water resources secretary Sanjeev Hans said that as per the Indian Meteorological Department forecast, almost all the major rivers in the state will maintain a 'rising trend' in the next 72 hours. The catchment areas of the rivers are likely to see rain in Bihar and Nepal. 

"The embankments are, however, safe and wherever there is any damage it will be repaired immediately," he added.

Disaster management department additional secretary Ramchandra Doo said, "We are in a state of alert. With the increase in water level of the rivers, 153 panchayats of 31 blocks across 8 districts of Sitamarhi, Shivhar, Supaul, Kishanganj, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj and East Champaran have been partially affected. Two relief camps each are being run in Supaul, Darbhanga and Gopalganj."

Nine community kitchens each were being run in Gopalganj and East Champaran, two in Supaul and seven in Darbhanga which feed nearly 21,000 people every day. Nearly 2.92 lakh people from 153 gram panchayats in the state have been affected by the floods, he added.

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Singh alleged that the Bihar government had failed to tackle both corona and floods.