Flood water enter Bihar's Motihari town, creates panic amongst residents

The flood situation in Bihar's East Champaran deteriorated further on Friday as flood water entered Motihari town creating panic amongst the residents. Overnight rains led to further swelling of the Burhi Gandak river in Motihari after which water made its way into the town.

Dr Rajesh Asthana, a noted physician in town, woke up to a rude shock in the morning to find his house submerged under water by at least 2 feet.

"When we woke up in the morning we saw that flood water had entered our house. In all the rooms the water had entered and we don't know how to stay in such condition," said Dr Rajesh Asthana, a local in Motihari.

It is notable that water in Burhi Gandak river flowed above the danger mark and showed no signs of declining. The flood water also submerged NH-28A at various places, snapping links of Motihari with Bettiah and Raxaul. Due to NH-28A getting submerged under water, essential items like cooking gas cylinders loaded in trucks halted at Motihari, unable to navigate to Bettiah and Raxaul. Several locals from nearby villages also came to the NH where the truck had stopped, battling the flood, to take delivery of the cooking gas cylinders.

"I have come carrying empty cylinder on my shoulder for 10 kms to take delivery of the new cylinder. There is crisis of cylinder as the trucks are unable to go to their destination," said Rajesh Kumar, a local.

With the death toll in the Bihar flood rising to 119 and more than 90 lakh people displaced, the woes for the flood affected people is unlikely to end soon.

AIR FORCE IN RESCUE AND RELIEF OPERATIONS

Indian Air Force helicopters are in action to conduct extensive flood relief operations in Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh since the last four days. The choppers are operating from Gorakhpur airbase.

A total flying effort of 58 sorties has been undertaken till date to provide relief to the flood-affected areas. 23 tonnes of food packets have been dropped in various parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

(Additional inputs from Manjeet Singh Negi)

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Bihar floods: Death toll rises to 98, exams postponed, trains cancelled

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