Bihar floods worsen, nearly 48.22 lakh people affected

Bihar’s flood situation worsened on Saturday, with nearly 48.22 lakh people affected across 15 districts. Several rivers, including the Ganga, remained above danger marks. Authorities stepped up relief operations, with community kitchens, camps, boats and rescue teams deployed

Patna: The flood situation in Bihar deteriorated on Saturday, with the number of affected people increasing to nearly 48.22 lakh across 15 districts, while several rivers, including the Ganga, were flowing above the danger levels.

The Water Resources Department (WRD) cautioned against sudden and rapid riverbank erosion and directed its officials to maintain close vigil at vulnerable locations.

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Due to the rise in water levels of several rivers, approximately 48.22 lakh people in 574 gram panchayats across 87 blocks in 15 districts have been affected by the floods, the Disaster Management Department said in a statement issued on Saturday.

The flood-hit districts are Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Purnia, Madhepura and Araria.

The count of flood-affected people was 47.33 lakh on Friday evening.

The government also instructed officials to ensure prompt reporting of any erosion incident and to keep adequate resources readily available at vulnerable locations.

Incessant rain in Bihar, coupled with downpours in catchment areas of Nepal, has caused several rivers and streams to swell, officials said.

The state has recorded 108.8 mm of rainfall in September so far, about 20 per cent above normal, they said.

The Disaster Management Department said the Ganga was flowing at 36.48 metres at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur at 6 am on Saturday, 1.98 metres above the danger level, though the water level was receding.

The water levels of the Gandak at Dumariaghat, the Kosi at Baltara and Kursela, the Burhi Gandak at Khagaria, the Ganga at Digha, Gandhi Ghat, Hathidah, Bhagalpur, Kahalgaon and Munger, the Punpun at Sripalpur, the Bagmati at Benibad, and the Ghaghra at Darauli and Gangpur Siswan were above the danger marks, the Water Resources Department said.

It stated that a sudden reduction in water levels could increase the risk of bank erosion, posing a threat to vulnerable stretches of riverbanks and embankments.

Department officials have been directed to immediately inspect any location showing signs of sudden erosion, bank collapse or rapid movement of the river current towards the bank, and to initiate necessary preventive and protective measures without delay.

A total of 1,248 community kitchens are being operated in various districts for flood-affected people. In addition, 13 relief camps remain functional. In these facilities, arrangements for accommodation, food, medical care and other essential items have been made for 12,260 flood-affected people, the Disaster Management Department said.

So far, approximately 3.53 lakh polythene sheets, 59,500 dry-ration packets and 1,400 food packets have been distributed among flood-hit people.

A total of 1,794 boats are being operated to facilitate evacuation and transportation, it said, adding that 11,424 quintals of animal fodder have been distributed so far.

In view of the floods and to ensure prompt relief and rescue operations, 27 SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) teams and 10 NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) teams have been deployed in various districts.

The Bihar Meteorological Centre has forecast that most parts of the state are likely to remain partly cloudy during the next two days, with the possibility of strong winds.