Rivers receding, but 20 districts still flooded

Inspite of a sharp fall in the water level of all major rivers in Bihar, the water resources department (WRD) and the district administration have kept vigil on the movement of the river in view of the Indian metrological department’s forecast of heavy rainfall in Bihar in the next seven days.

With a sharp fall in the water level of all major rivers in Bihar, the flood situation in the state significantly improved on Thursday.

Though the Ganga was still flowing above the danger line and continued building pressure on its embankment running from Hajipur to Begusarai, it lost its ferocity following abysmally low discharge in its catchment areas in the upper reaches and the Himalayan valley in Nepal.

people struggling in flood hit areas of Bihar.HT photo

The water level of the Ganga at the Gandhi Ghat was 49.68 metre on Thursday. It is expected to decrease by 26 cm in the next 24 hours.

Still the water resources department (WRD) and the district administration have kept vigil on the movement of the river in view of the Indian metrological department’s forecast of heavy rainfall in Bihar in the next seven days.

WRD minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said the field engineers had been asked to remain alert for the receding water posed maximum danger to the embankments.
“We consider this condition as more lethal than the high level of water,” he added.

The WRD claimed that all the embankments were intact. Even the Gogri-Narayanpur embankment,which had sustained damage,was repaired.

As per a bulletin issued by the department of disaster management, floods claimed three more lives and with this the toll rose to 179.

Apart from this, the overall situation in the state was under control, said DDM sources.

The 20 worst affected districtsare: Kishanganj, Purnia, Araria, Muzaffarpur,, Katihar, Supaul,Saharsa, Gopalganj, Bhagalpur,Saran, Patna, Bhojpur, Buxar,Vaishali, Begusarai, Khagaria,Munger, Samastipur, Lakhisaraiand East Champaran.