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Flood situation in Bihar grave; toll 311

The flood situation in Bihar has taken a turn for the worse with major rivers rising after torrential rainfall.

According to Central Water Commission sources in Patna, the toll in the current spell of floods has risen to 311 with five more deaths reported from Katihar district.

The Ganga was flowing above the danger level at Kahalgaon and Farakka, the sources said, adding that the Burhi Gandak river crossed the danger mark at Samastipur, Rosera and Khagaria while the Bagmati was overflowing at Benibad and Hayaghat.

The Adhwara group of rivers and the Kosi had crossed the danger mark at Ekmighat and Baltara respectively.

A report from Katihar said the flood situation in Manihari, Amdabad, Kursaila, Samaali and part of Pranpur block continued to be grave. While 34 people have died in flood-related mishaps in the district, 52 have died of diarrhoea.

Army rescue and relief team in charge Major Jagjit Singh said the army had covered 52 villages so far distributing 40 tonnes of grains and 65,000 packets of readymade food besides rendering medical services to 1,500 patients.

A report from Darbhanga quoting Divisional Commissioner Girish Shankar said Rs 700 million was needed for relief work in Darbhanga, Samastipur and Madhubani districts under this division.

He said standing crops over an area of 100,000 hectare had been damaged by the floods which had affected 2.7 million people in 45 blocks.

In Assam, the overall flood situation witnessed a marked improvement with water level of all the rivers considerably receding.

Official sources said though more than 5100 villages had been affected by this unprecedented wave of floods, most of the rivers were maintaining a falling trend.

In all 91 people were killed and 21 of the 23 districts have been affected by the floods so far. In the worst-affected Dhemaji district, the flood situation was improving. However, road and rail communication still remained cut off.

In North Lakhimpur district, water level of the Subansiri river and its tributaries was receding. With the report of two more deaths, the toll due to floods has risen to 14 in the district.

In Dhakuakhana sub-division, water levels of the rivers were receding, but the affected people were still camping on roads and embankments.

In Majuli island, water level of the Brahmaputra was receding. All communication within and outside the sub-division still remained cut off.

UNI

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