Following heavy rains in Nepal, the flood situation in four districts of Bihar has turned grim, affecting two lakh people and forcing the government to put officials on alert.
On Monday, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met officials of the Water Resources and Disaster Management Departments and directed them to undertake an aerial survey of the affected areas to plan relief and rescue.
“Due to continuous rains in the catchments of Nepal, the districts of Kishanganj, Purnia, Saharsha and Supaul are facing floods in larger areas. The government has opened 65 relief camps, and teams of the NDRF and the SDRF have been sent there,” said Vyasji, Principal Secretary of the Disaster Management Department.
The Kishanganj district administration has appealed to the people to move to safer places. The level in the Kosi, Gandak, Bagmati and Ganga has risen, threatening to maroon more villages. Floodwater has also surrounded some areas of Araria, Madhepura and West Champaran, forcing the people to take shelter on highways. Reports said 12 persons had died so far. The train traffic on the Saharsha-Mansi route has been halted.
Water Resources Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh said all barrages and embankments in the affected areas were safe, and officials were mounting vigil.
