North Bihar rivers in spate as floods hit 5 lakh more in 12 districts

PATNA: Several rivers in north Bihar showed a rising trend following fresh showers as over 5 lakh more people were affected by the floods on Tuesday. According to state disaster management department (DMD), the population affected by floods surged from 24.43 lakh on Monday to 29.62 lakh in 12 districts till Tuesday evening.
The water resources department WRD bulletin said most rivers in north Bihar, except Bhutahi Balan and Lalbakeya, were flowing above danger level at many places.Bagmati and Adhwara group of rivers were also flowing above the corresponding danger level at 11 flood gauges in Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Madhubani, Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur districts.
Burhi Gandak was flowing above the danger level at all four flood gauges in Muzaffarpur, Samastipur and Khagaria districts. Kamla Balan was also above danger level at both flood gauges in Madhubani district.
A DMD bulletin stated that 2.62 lakh people have been evacuated to safer places and 22,997 persons were staying in relief camps and 4.19 lakh people were being provided with meal twice a day at 808 community kitchens.
WRD minister Sanjay Kumar Jha said Gandak, Burhi Gandak and Bagmati rivers remained turbulent. “There has been moderate to heavy rainfall in the catchment area of Gandak in the last 24 hours,” Jha told TOI.
He said 2.27 lakh cusecs were discharged in the Gandak through Valmikinagar barrage as on Tuesday evening and it was showing a falling trend.
The Patna Meteorological Centre said light to moderate rainfall occurred at a few places over north-central and south Bihar, many places over north-west part and most places over northeast parts of the state during the last 24 hours. Also, heavy rainfall occurred at one or two places over north Bihar.
DMD sources said airdropping of food packets by three Indian Air Force choppers continued while 18 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and nine teams of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were involved in rescue and relief operations.