At least 29 people died in Bihar till Monday due to heavy downpour which has paralysed normal life in several parts of the state.
Four deaths have been reported in capital Patna while one each in Purnia, Jamui, Begusarai and Sitamarhi and six each in Bhagalpur and Gaya. A red alert has been issued in 14 districts of the state.
Sources told Zee Media that 32 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been pressed into service for relief and rescue operations.
In Patna, which has been badly hit due to heavy rainfall, 235 people have been rescued by NDRF so far. All schools and coaching institutes in Patna were shut till Monday because of waterlogging. Many trains were cancelled as tracks are inundated.
The state government has issued several emergency helpline numbers for those traopoed by the incessant rains, which also disrupted road traffic and flight operations with dozen trains cancelled.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi and his family members were also rescued by a team of National and State Disaster Response Forces, almost three days after being stuck at his residence at Rajendra Nagar in Patna.
The meteorological department said it had alerted the state government about the impending heavy rainfall in several parts of the state but Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Monday that they had not received any specific alert.
The deputy director of meteorological department Anand Shankar said his department had informed the state government on September 19 and alerts were sent to all District Magistrate and concerned officials. Anand added that the state government was informed in advance that Patna and some other districts of the state would receive very heavy rainfall from September 26 till September 29.
The state government has requested the Indian Air Force for two helicopters for lifting and airdropping food packets and medicines, in the flood-affected areas of the region. Dewatering machines have also been sought by the state.
—Zee Media Newsroom
