Flood situation remains grim in Bihar

Patna, Aug 19 (UNI) Flood situation in Bihar today deteriorated further after the Valmiki Barrage released 2.12 lakh cusecs of water inundating more areas while majority of the rivers were still flowing above the red mark.

According to reports received here from Bagaha, the Valmiki Nagar barrage released 12.02 lakh cusecs of water in Gandak river during the past four days worsening the flood situation in the West Champaran district.

The flood water of Gandak was flowing over National Highway 28 B following which the communication between Bettiah and Bagaha in West Champaran district continued to remain snapped.

The flood situation in more than 300 villages of Madhubani, Thakraha, Bhitaha and Piprasi blocks continued to remain grim.

A report from Samastipur revealed there was no let up in the flood fury and the water level of Noon and Baya were increasing rapidly making the situation worse in the villages of the Patauri block. Sarairanjan, Morwa, and Tajpur were among the blocks worst hit due to surging Noon and Baya rivers.

Another report from Darbhanga said the district was again in the grip of flood as Kamla Balan river was rising alarmingly following heavy downpour in the district for the last few days.

Among the blocks in the Darbhanga district, where the flood situation continued to remain grim were Singhwara, Keoti, Tardih and Kusheshwarsthan.

The road link of Kamtaul with the Darbhanga district headquarter continued to remain snapped after the flood water was overflowing on the main road. The overtopping of Kamla rivers on its western embankment had inundated Deona, Jaidevpatti, Naruar, while the Adhwara group of rivers has flooded Kothia, Asraha, Jalwara, and Keoti blocks of the district affecting more than 2.5 lakh people in 40 villages.

East Central Railway (ECR) sources said train movement between Darbhanga and Samastipur remained disrupted following inundation of tracks. The tracks and yard at Sugauli railway station under Sitmarhi -Narkatiganj section of the ECR were submerged with flood water, forcing the authorities to suspend movement of trains on the route.

A report from Hajipur said flood situation in Belsar, Goraul and Mahua blocks in Vaishali district deteriorated as water entered in the area following breaches in embankments of Baya river last night.

Meanwhile, reports from Khagaria district said four people were swept away near Jhamta Musahari village today.

In East Champaran district, seven people drowned in two separate boat mishaps at Sugauli and Chiraiya.

More than 300 people had so far lost their lives in the flood fury while more than 1.5 crore people living in 19 districts were flood affected.

Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Bhagalpur were among the worst-affected districts.

According to the Central Water commission, all major rivers were flowing above the danger liver and the torrents in the catchment areas during the past 24 hours further aggravated the flood situation.

Local weatherman predicted moderate to heavy rains in the catchment areas and plains during the next 24 hours.

UNI