Bihar floods worsen, nearly 48 lakh affected across 15 districts
According to the Disaster Management Department, around 48.22 lakh people in 574 gram panchayats across 87 blocks have been affected by the floods. The number was 47.33 lakh on Friday evening.
The flood situation in Bihar worsened on Saturday, with nearly 48.22 lakh people affected across 15 districts as several rivers, including the Ganga, continued to flow above danger levels.
The Water Resources Department (WRD) warned of sudden riverbank erosion and directed officials to maintain close vigil at vulnerable locations.
According to the Disaster Management Department, around 48.22 lakh people in 574 gram panchayats across 87 blocks have been affected by the floods. The number was 47.33 lakh on Friday evening.
The affected districts are Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Purnia, Madhepura and Araria.
Incessant rain in Bihar, along with heavy rainfall in Nepal’s catchment areas, has caused several rivers and streams to swell. Bihar has recorded 108.8 mm of rainfall so far this month, around 20 per cent above normal, officials said.
The Ganga was flowing at 36.48 metres at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur at 6 am on Saturday, nearly two metres above the danger mark, though its water level was receding.
The Gandak at Dumariaghat, Kosi at Baltara and Kursela, Burhi Gandak at Khagaria, Ganga at Digha, Gandhi Ghat, Hathidah, Bhagalpur, Kahalgaon and Munger, Punpun at Sripalpur, Bagmati at Benibad and Ghaghra at Darauli and Gangpur Siswan were also flowing above danger levels, the WRD said.
The department warned that sudden changes in water levels could increase the risk of erosion and threaten vulnerable riverbanks and embankments. Officials have been asked to immediately inspect areas showing signs of erosion, bank collapse or a rapid shift in the river current and take preventive measures.
Meanwhile, 1,248 community kitchens and 13 relief camps are operating across the affected districts. Accommodation, food, medical care and other essentials have been arranged for 12,260 people at these facilities.
Authorities have distributed around 3.53 lakh polythene sheets, 59,500 dry-ration packets and 1,400 food packets among flood-affected people. A total of 1,794 boats are also being operated for evacuation and transportation, while 11,424 quintals of animal fodder have been distributed.
For rescue and relief operations, 27 teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and 10 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed across various districts.
The Bihar Meteorological Centre has forecast partly cloudy skies across most parts of the state over the next two days, along with the possibility of strong winds.