Flood situation worsens in Bihar

Written By DNA Web Team | Updated:

The flood situation in Bihar worsened with most major rivers in spate following heavy rains in their catchment areas over the past few days.

PATNA: The flood situation in Bihar worsened on Tuesday with most major rivers in spate following heavy rains in their catchment areas over the past few days.
    
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday reviewed the flood situation with top officials of the state in the wake of the breach in the eastern Kosi embankment in Nepal and the consequent floods in the bordering districts of Bihar.
    
Kumar instructed the officials to step up relief and rescue efforts in Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura and Araria districts affected by the floods caused due to the breach in the Kosi embankment, official sources said.
    
After easing a bit over the past fortnight the situation deteriorated in 802 flood-hit villages in 11 districts -- Muzaffarapur, Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura, Katihar, Araria, West Champaran, Khagaria, Sitamarhi, Patna and Nalanda, state's Disaster Management Department sources said.
    
Most major rivers including the Ganga, Punpun, Ghaghra, Burhigandak, Bagmati, Kosi and Mahananda were flowing above the danger level at several places along their course.
    
A Central Water Commission report said that the Ganga was flowing 63 cm above the red mark at Gandhighat in Patna, and 50 cm and 81 cm at Hathidah and Kahalgaon respectively, while Punpun had crossed the danger level by 216 cm at Sripalpur.
    
The Burhi Gandak was flowing 83 cm above the danger level at Khagaria and Bagmati 17 cm at Benibad, it said.
    
The report said the Kosi was flowing 101 cm above the red level at Kursela and Mahananda 34 cm and 49 cm at Dhengraghat and Jhawa respectively.
    
The Chief Minister directed the principal secretaries of the Disaster Management Department and Water Resources Department to personally visit these districts to supervise the relief and rescue operations.
    
According to an official press release, the Chief Minister, apart from requesting the Centre to take appropriate steps to help tackle the situation, asked all technical and administrative officials in flood-affected districts to spare no efforts in ensuring protection of embankments and providing relief to the people.
    
Water Resources minister Vijendra Prasad Yadav, Disaster Management department minister Nitish Mishra, chief secretary R J M Pillai and top officials of the concerned departments attended the meeting.