Patna, Sep 28 (PTI) Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Monday monitored the flood situation in East Champaran and Gopalganj districts, where the Gandak River has inundated low-lying areas, officials said.
The CM, accompanied by his deputy Vijay Kumar Choudhary, reviewed the situation at Dumariaghat in Gopalganj and adjoining areas in Motihari in East Champaran district, they said.
He inspected water levels, discharge from barrages, embankment status and night patrolling along the embankments, and directed officials to remain fully alert and prepared to deal with any exigency.
The CM also monitored the flood situation throughout Sunday night from the command centre of the Water Resources Department (WRD) in Patna.
Gandak recorded a peak discharge of 5,43,500 cusecs at the Gandak Barrage at Valmikinagar in West Champaran district at 5 am on Monday.
The discharge of water at the Valmikinagar barrage, however, fell thereafter, indicating that the situation was likely to improve. However, the peak water level will take some time to pass through downstream areas, a WRD statement said.
“The discharge of water at the Gandak Barrage was 4,97,200 cusecs at 7 am on Monday and showed a falling trend, while the Kosi and Sone rivers recorded rising trends. The Kosi Barrage at Birpur recorded 1,80,490 cusecs, while the Sone Barrage at Indrapuri recorded 1,36,124 cusecs, both showing a rising trend,” the statement said.
The Disaster Management Department (DMD) said rivers flowing above the danger mark include Gandak at Dumariaghat, Kosi at Baltara, Bagmati at Dheng, Sonakhan, Kataunjha and Benibad, and Lalbakeya at Gowa Bari.
Due to heavy rainfall in Nepal and the adjoining districts of Bihar over the last three to four days, water levels in Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati and other rivers have risen, resulting in reports of water entering low-lying areas of some districts.
Around 82,000 people in 23 gram panchayats across 11 blocks in Supaul and West Champaran districts had been affected in the previous wave of floods, the DMD said.
A total of 173 boats are being operated to facilitate evacuation and movement. Through 13 community kitchens, around 17,466 people are being provided meals in the two districts.
Due to a rise in water levels of various rivers during the first and second weeks of September, around 50.49 lakh people in 576 gram panchayats across 88 blocks in 15 districts were affected by floods.
The affected districts included Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Purnia, Madhepura and Arwal.
The Bihar Meteorological Centre has forecast light to moderate rainfall in several places across the state over the next two days. PTI PKD ACD
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.