Bihar Floods: Death toll rises to 24, over 75 lakh people affected

The flood situation in Bihar worsened on Tuesday with the water entering fresh areas affecting over 62,000 more people in 16 districts, taking the number of flood victims to more than 75 lakh. The 16-flood affected districts are Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Supaul, Kishanganj, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, West Champaran, East Champaran, Khagaria, Saran, Samastipur, Siwan, Madhubani, Madhepura and Saharsa.

Patna:The death toll due to floods in Bihar has reached 24 and the number of people affected across 16 districts crossed 75 lakh mark on Tuesday, as per the state government.

The 16-flood affected districts are Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Supaul, Kishanganj, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, West Champaran, East Champaran, Khagaria, Saran, Samastipur, Siwan, Madhubani, Madhepura and Saharsa.

The number of affected panchayats increased to 1,260 from Monday's 1,240 though that of the flood-hit districts remained at 16.

Around 10 people have died in Darbhanga while six others have lost their lives in Muzaffarpur, followed by West Champaran (4), Saran (2), and Siwan (2). Sixty-six animals have died in Bihar till Tuesday.

"24 people dead and 75,02,621 affected across 16 districts of Bihar due to floods. 66 animals have died," according to the bulletin issued by the disaster management department.

As many as 33 StateDisaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to carry out rescue and relief work in the state. Moreover, 12,479 people have been shifted to relief camps.

Darbhanga district reported the highest casualties of 10, followed by six in Muzaffarpur, four in West Champaran and two each in Saran and Siwan, the bulletin said.

The bulletin said that 20 teams of NDRF and 13 teams of SDRF have evacuated 5,36,371 people from inundated areas so far.

Several rivers such as the Bagmati, Burhi Gandak, Kamlabalan and the Khiroi are flowing above the danger level.

The Ganga is flowing above the danger mark at Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district. However, its water level came down at several places including Patna, Water Resources Department's bulletin said.

All embankments under the department are safe, it said.

The Met Office at Patna has forecast light rain in the catchment areas of all rivers flowing in the state on Wednesday.

On August 8, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had undertaken an aerial survey of different embankments and flood-affected areas in many districts of Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Munger, Purnia and Kosi divisions and directed the concerned authorities to carefully operate Gandak Garage.

The Chief Minister had inspected the flood and COVID-19 situation in these areas.

He had said the water levels of rivers in this region are comparatively low, however, the flood situation will remain till September. He had directed the officials to enhance COVID-19 testing in flood-affected areas by setting up a camp at Air Force station.

Besides, 12,479 people have taken shelter in seven relief camps and nearly 9.29 lakh people were fed at 1,204 community kitchens in the affected districts, it said.

ANI