Bihar: Death toll in flood fury rises to 32

Patna, Aug 25: With the toll in the current fury of floods in north Bihar rising to 32 on Monday, Aug 25, the overall situation continued to remain grim. Reports reaching here stated that at least ten people died in Madhepura, six lost their lives in Bhagalpur and Supaul each, followed by four in West Champaran and three each in Samastipur and Purnea districts in flood-related incidents so far.

A report from Madhepura said 11 of the 13 blocks in the district were inundated as the Kosi river continued to maintain a rising trend affecting 1.5 million people.

The worst-affected blocks were Gualpara, Kumarkhand, Alamnagar, Bihariganj, Chausa, Alam Nagar, Uraini, Murliganj and Singheshwar.

The standing crops in more than 1,000 hectares of land were also damaged.

''Altogether 30 relief camps have been opened in Madhepura where food packets and other essentials, besides medicines, were being distributed among flood victims,'' official sources said, adding that 28 boats had been pressed into service to rush the relief material to the marooned people.

Food packets, polythene sheets and other essential commodities were also being airdropped by IAF helicopters in worst-hit areas, the sources said.

All the educational institutions in Madhepura remained closed on the directive of the district administration. Large parts of NH-106 and NH-107 had been submerged, disrupting the traffic movement and snapping links with other parts of the state, the sources added.

UNI