Floods displace thousands in people in Bihar

Patna, Aug 27 : With the Kosi River continuing to unleash its fury in Bihar districts bordering Nepal, over 20 lakh people are bearing the brunt of floods.

The Army was called out to help the marooned people.

Three IAF helicopters airdropped relief materials in the flood-ravaged villages of Supaul, Araria and Madhepura districts where more than 12 lakh people were hit by the floods caused by the breach in the east Kosi embankment in Nepal on August 18.

According to the Central Water Commission, the Kosi, Ganga, Ghaghra, Punpun and Burhi Gandak were flowing above the danger level at several places along their course.

The Bihar government has constituted a technical committee, headed by retired engineer-in-chief of the water resource department Nilendu Sanyal to supervise the restoration work and closure of the breach in the East Kosi afflux embankment.

So far, 42 people have died in the floods in Bihar, official sources said.

People residing in Ramayanpur and many other villages of Amadabad block in Katihar district have been forced to seek shelter. Many of them who tried to occupy the the block development office premises were reportedly asked to seek shelter elsewhere.

"We don't have a place to stay. We fear we will get drowned like this. The police chased us away. I just want a place to stay," said Urmila Devi, a flood victim.

"We are getting drowned. We went to the block (Block Development Office). We were not allowed to stay there. When I came back, I saw that our houses were getting submerged. So I made my children sit on the rooftop. The Block Development Officer is not doing anything," said Jhangru Chand, another flood victim.

ANI