Bihar on alert as rivers swell after rains

New Delhi, July 21 (IANS) The Central Water Commission has issued an advisory that predicted isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall in Bihar in the next 4-5 days. However, it said that the intensity of rain is likely to decrease thereafter. This warning comes even as the state is facing a serious flood situation.

The Ganga is in ‘above normal flood situation’ from Patna to Bhagalpur district, while river Adhwara is flowing in ‘severe flood situation’ in Darbhanga and Madhubani districts of Bihar. Particularly in Darbhanga, the river is flowing in ‘severe’ state, said the commission in an advisory issued Monday.

Meanwhile , the Burhi Gandak river is rising rapidly due to extremely heavy rainfall in West Champaran district, while Kosi also in ‘severe’ in Khagaria district.

Rivers like Bagmati, Kamalabalan, Mahananda have also been swelling and endangering districts like Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Kishanganj, Katihar among others.

In a stern warning, the commission said, “Strict vigil is to be maintained in all the above districts for next 3-4 days. Breaches in embankments if any may aggravate further flood-like situation which should be monitored and all efforts to fill any such breaches should be done at the earliest.”

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry said that a total of 8 districts in Bihar have been affected. These are Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Supaul, Kishanganj, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj and East Champaran. A total of 147 villages and 2,64,000 people in the state are affected by the floods. So far, 6,036 people have been evacuated. There are 12 NDRF teams in the state.

–IANS

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