Patna, Sep 14: Floods have affected around 49.36 lakh people in 15 districts of Bihar, with several rivers continuing to flow above their danger marks following heavy rainfall in the state and upstream catchment areas in Nepal, officials said on Monday.
Bihar has received 111.7 mm of rainfall in September so far, around 13 per cent above normal, according to the local weather office. Incessant rain in the catchment areas of rivers flowing from Nepal into Bihar, coupled with heavy rainfall within the state, has further swollen the rivers and streams.
The 15 affected districts are Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Purnea, Madhepura and Araria, according to the Disaster Management Department.
The Ganga was flowing at 36.21 metres at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur at 6 am, which was 1.71 metres above the danger level. The river was also above the danger mark at Digha, Gandhi Ghat, Hathidah, Bhagalpur, Kahalgaon and Munger.
The Kosi was above the danger level at Baltara and Kursela, while the Budhi Gandak at Khagaria, Punpun at Sripalpur, Bagmati at Benibad and Ghaghara at Darauli were also flowing above their respective danger marks.
The administration has stepped up relief measures, operating 1,260 community kitchens and 13 relief camps in the affected areas. Around 11,060 people have been provided accommodation, food, medical care and other essential facilities, the department said.
Water discharge at key barrages also remained a concern. The Gandak barrage at Valmiki Nagar recorded 90,600 cusecs at 10 am, with the trend rising. The Kosi Barrage at Birpur recorded 1,51,015 cusecs, against this year’s peak discharge of 2,55,425 cusecs recorded on July 20.
For rescue and relief operations, 27 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams and 10 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed across various districts.
Authorities are closely monitoring river levels and water discharge amid continuing rainfall and rising water levels in several parts of the state.
