Patna, Sep 5 (PTI) Bihar was reeling under floods on Saturday when over 16 lakh people across 11 districts were affected by the calamity, while a large part of the state capital was inundated by swollen rivers.
Rising water levels of the Ganga and its tributary Punpun inundated several areas in rural Patna, causing disruption in rail and road traffic while low-lying areas of the city were submerged.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary flew to Bhagalpur and reviewed rescue and relief operations in the district where the situation remains grim a week after an embankment was breached following a steep rise in water levels.
Choudhary shared on his X handle snapshots of his tour during which he conducted an aerial survey of Bhagalpur and its Naugachia subdivision, and an on-site inspection of the damaged Koji Koraiya bandh.
“Protection from floods and safety of the common public is our top priority. Instructions were issued to officials to continually monitor embankments, keep special watch on vulnerable areas and ensure promptness in relief and rescue work,” Choudhary said in the post.
The disaster management department stated that 2.32 lakh people were hit by floods in Patna, one of the worst-affected districts. Local MP Ravi Shankar Prasad toured the rural areas which have been ravaged by the waters of the Ganga and Punpun.
The East Central Railway came out with a list of trains that have been cancelled or diverted because of “high water level at Bridge number 21” that connects Punpun and Parsa Bazar stations.
In Athmalgola block, NH-31 was left inundated, bringing vehicular traffic to a grinding halt.
On his X handle, Prasad wrote that he “met villagers and listened to their problems” besides giving “instructions to officials that there should be no laxity in relief and rescue operations and adequate supply of food, medicines and other essential items be ensured”.
The water resources department warned that the level of the Ganga rose by 10 cm since the previous day to cross the “highest flood level (HFL)” at two places, including Gandhi Ghat, which is adjacent to the National Institute of Technology and a stone’s throw from Patna University.
Heavy rains have been battering the city for the past few days, causing heavy water-logging in areas far away from the river bed as well. Streets leading to the Patna airport saw long queues of vehicles moving through knee-deep water.
“Due to the rise in water levels of several rivers, around 16.85 lakh people in 300 gram panchayats across 61 blocks in 11 districts — Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar and Araria — have been affected by the floods”, the state Disaster Management Department said in a bulletin.
The water level of rivers is rising in different cities following heavy rainfall in the state and neighbouring Nepal.
Bihar has so far received 60.8 mm of rainfall in September, which is 69 per cent above normal.
The Gandak is flowing above the danger mark at Dumariya Ghat and Hajipur, the Kosi at Baltara and Kursela, the Budhi Gandak at Khagaria, the Ganga at Digha, Hathidah, Bhagalpur, Kahalgaon, Buxar and Munger, Punpun at Sripalpur, the Bagmati at Benibad and the Ghaghra at Darauli.
A total of 80 community kitchens are being operated in various districts for flood-affected people. Around 45,900 polythene sheets and 11,700 dry-ration packets have so far been distributed among flood-affected people.
To facilitate evacuation and movement of people, 1,158 boats are being operated, the bulletin said.
In view of the possibility of flooding and to undertake immediate relief and rescue operations, 27 SDRF teams and seven NDRF teams have been deployed in various districts.
Talking to reporters in Patna on Saturday, BJP national president Nitin Nabin said, “The chief minister is monitoring the situation. The government is fully aware of the fact. All of us are making efforts to ensure that people face the least possible difficulties during this disaster.” Nabin said the Prime Minister is also monitoring the situation at the Centre, particularly in matters concerning disasters.
“The government should stand firmly with the people. These conditions have been persisting following the disaster in Nepal and continued rainfall,” he said.
Meanwhile, independent Lok Sabha MP from Purnea, Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, on Saturday met flood-affected people in Patna’s Danapur Diara and reportedly provided financial assistance.
He urged the administration to expedite relief efforts and ensure adequate supplies of food, medicines, boats, drinking water, relief camps and medical facilities for those affected. PTI NAC PKD NN
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.