Flood situation in Bihar eases

With river Kosi maintaining a receding trend along with the other major rivers, the flood situation in Bihar eased further on Friday.

With river Kosi maintaining a receding trend along with the other major rivers, the flood situation in Bihar eased further on Friday.

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Additional secretary, disaster management Pratayaya Amrit said the situation in the worst-hit northeastern districts of Saharsa, Supaul, Madhepura, Purnia and Araria improved during the day as discharge into Kosi from Barah Kshetra dam in Nepal decreased to 56,500 cusecs as against 61,000 cusecs yesterday.

The Central Flood Control communique in a statement said all embankments were safe in Bihar.

The communique said in accordance with the recommendations of the Kosi Breach Closure Advisory Team work for constructing a pilot channel has been initiated.

The death toll in the current spell of floods rose to 218 in 18 districts with Madhepura alone accounting for 113 deaths followed by 22 in Saharsa. A total of 45.72 lakh people from 2,502 villages were affected in the calamity.

Over 10.5 lakh people have been evacuated with the help of the army, the National Disaster Response Force and the locals while over 3.66 lakh people have taken shelter in 372 relief camps, the sources said.