Flood situation eases in Bihar as water recedes

After the loss of 17 lives in the Bihar floods the situation seems to be under control with recession in water level.

Seventeen people have lost their lives in the current spell of floods affecting nearly three lakh people in five districts of Bihar even as the situation registered a marginal improvement following recession in the water level of some rivers in the absence of rains since Sunday.

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Official sources said with reports of three deaths each from Bhagalpur and Jehanabad districts during the past 24 hours, the death toll in the current spell of floods rose to 17.

Earlier, 11 persons—Muzaffarpur (5), Sitamarhi (3) and Bhagalpur (3)—had died due to floods, sources said.

State distaster managemnent department sources said nearly three lakh people continued to reel under the impact of the floods during the past one week in Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, East Champaran and West Champaran districts.

However, water level in the rivers has receded due to absence of rains since Sunday, sources said.

Turbulent Gandak, Bagmati, Kamala Balan, Punpun and Adhwara groups of rivers were receding, they said.

Relief and rescue measures were being stepped up in Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi districts, they said.

State water resources department sources said all embankments were safe with engineers maintaining round-the-clock vigil to prevent breach.