Rivers in Bihar continue to rise, four fresh deaths

Floods in Bihar claimed four more lives raising the toll so far to 21 even as rivers continued to swell along their courses following heavy rains in the catchment areas, official sources said.

Floods in Bihar claimed four more lives today raising the toll so far to 21 even as rivers continued to swell along their courses following heavy rains in the catchment areas, official sources said.

HT Image

Of the four more deaths reported today two were at Gopalganj and one each at Darbhanga and Araria districts, these sources said.

As all major rivers have engulfed vast areas in north Bihar, over 10 lakh people have been affected and standing crops worth several crores of rupees destroyed.

An official report from Gopalganj said that the principal of the polytechnic college, Sepaya, Fazle Sawar, was forced to close the institution as the swrilling waters of Gandak, which claimed two lives in the district, entered the college premises.

A Darbhanga report said that the rivers like Bagmati, Kareh and Adhwara group of rivers, flowing above danger marks at different places, entered the market areas of Kushehwarstan, Jale and Hanumanganj blocks of the district, badly affecting 15 panchayats of the district.

According to a Central Water Commission communique, major rivers, including Ganga, Kosi, Gandak, Bgamati, Burhi Gandak, Sone and Adhwara group of rivers, were in spate and likely to cross the red mark at several places with forecast of heavy rains in their catchment areas.