Flood waters continue to wreak havoc in Bihar

Flood waters have now started entering new areas in Bihar, triggering fears of more loss of life and property. Almost 6.50 lakh people in 10 districts have been affected by the floods so far.

Buildings in Gopalganj have all been submerged by the flood waters. The National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force are working non-stop to rescue the people.

Disaster Management Department Additional Secretary Ramchandra Doo said that the department is on alert in view of the increased water level in various rivers.

The rising water level has affected 55 blocks of 282 panchayats in the 10 districts of Sitamarhi, Shivhar, Supaul, Kishanganj, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, West Champaran, Khagaria and East Champaran.

About six and a half lakh people have been badly affected by the floods. Doo said that relief camps are being run in Supaul, West Champaran, two each in East Champaran, three in Gopalganj and one in Khagaria.

Apart from this, 134 community kitchens are being run in the flood-affected areas.

The Gandak river has caused much havoc in Gopalganj this year. Many villages in Sadar block have been submerged. Some children trapped in a madrasa were evacuated with the help of the district administration.

The same situation is there in Darbhanga. Flood water has entered 81 panchayats in 10 blocks of Darbhanga.

A water resources department official said on Thursday that the water level of the Gandak river is decreasing. There was 2.12 lakh cusecs of water discharge at the Valmikinagar Gandak barrage at 8 a.m.

The water level of the Kosi is also coming down rapidly. The water flow in the Kosi river near the Veerpur barrage was 1.77 lakh cusecs at 6 a.m. on Thursday, which had come down to 1.73 lakh cusecs at 8 am.

According to the Water Resources Department, except the Ganga, the Bagmati, Budhi Gandak, Kamla Balan, Punpun, Mahananda and Ghaghra are flowing above the danger mark in most places in the state.