Ignored by govt, hapless families take refuge on embankment in Bihar

Around 1,000 families from Bihar's Darbhanga district have taken refuge on an embankment along the Bagmati river after their homes were flooded. With no help from the government, the villagers themselves pitched up tents and have been left to fend for themselves.

Darbhanga (Bihar):The flood situation continues to remain grim in Bihar's Darbhanga district, with hundreds of families forced to take refuge on an embankment along the Bagmati river.

With people leaving their villages for higher ground over the past 15-20 days, around 1,000 families from Sirnia, Ammadih, Sinuara and other villages have now taken refuge on the embankment at Sirnia.

The people themselves have pitched up tents using plastic sheets, and have no other option but to share their temporary living space with their livestock.

Alleging that they have not yet received any form of help from government officials or politicians, the villagers said they have been left to fend for themselves. While there is not enough food for their kids, villagers are also struggling to obtain fodder for their livestock.

"Water entered into our homes. Nobody has come to check on us. Have received no help at all," rued Mohan Sada, an affected villager.

Read:Bihar boat capsize incidents: CM announces ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh

Similarly, another villager Paras Sada said that they have been somehow managing things on their own, but the lack of food is extremely worrying.

Floods continued to wreak havoc in Bihar as the death toll rose to 23 and the number of people affected crossed 70 lakh on August 6.

According to the bulletin issued by the disaster management department, the rise in death toll was on account of two casualties reported from Darbhanga, which has been the worst-hit by the calamity this season, with close to 1.9 million of residents affected.

The district now accounts for a total of nine flood- related casualties, followed by six in Muzaffarpur, West Champaran (four) besides Saran and Siwan (two each).

Read:Bihar floods: Villagers of flood-hit Muraul block to file case against administration