Bihar toll 15, many homeless

With flood water gushing into Seemanchal and eastern parts of Bihar, the situation in the state has turned worse.

In the last 48 hours more than 15 persons have died and many turned homeless as flood waters have entered their houses.

The state disaster management department on Thursday confirmed that “eight districts were reeling under severe flood threats”.

According to a statement issued by the state water resource department, the worst-hit districts are Kishanganj, Araria, Purnea, Supaul, Bhagalpur, Khagaria, Madhepura and Darbhanga.

Data available shows that flood water has entered 1,400 villages, severely affecting the lives of about 17 lakh people in Bihar. The state water resource department issued fresh warnings for several other districts, including Gopalganj, Champaran and Muzaffarpur.

Where water has already entered villages forcing people to migrate to safer places. According to sources, in Gopalganj alone flood water has entered into over 50 villages. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar surveyed the flood affected areas on Thursday and held an emergency review meeting with district officials in Purnea directing them to step up rescue and relief operations in affected zone and send reports to the government on day to day basis. Vyasji who was also present in the meeting with the chief minister, said the situation in Purnea is very serious with the most number of people and villages submerged in flood water. The disaster management department in view of the deteriorating situation in Bihar has deployed teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to the flood affected zones. The department has also set up 65 relief camps in areas where the situation is grim. “The situation is serious and we are working round the clock to ensure safety of people living in districts affected by flood. We have asked people to move to higher grounds to keep themselves safe,” Vyasji said. According to reports, Kosi, Bagmati and Gandak rivers have crossed the danger level mark and water has entered several villages, which lie in the vicinity of these rivers. The situation in the state worsened after Nepal released 3.5 lakh cusecs of water in river Gandak, sources said. “The state government is prepared to tackle the flood situation. Officials have been asked to move around to ensure that people get proper relief and are rehabilitated,” said Lallan Singh, Water Resources Minister. The eastern Kosi embankment, which had breached in the year 2008 was still safe, he said.