Patna, Sep 6: More than 22 lakh people in 12 districts of Bihar have been affected by a deluge as rivers overflowed following heavy rain in the state and neighbouring Jharkhand, with authorities sounding an alert as the water level in the Ganga crossed the highest flood level in Patna on Sunday.
In a notification, the East Central Railway cancelled and diverted some trains because of the alarmingly high water level at a bridge that connects Punpun and Parsa Bazar stations on the Patna-Gaya section.
A total of 190 community kitchens were being operated in various districts for flood-affected people, while 1,429 boats have been pressed into service to take marooned people to safety, officials said.
Besides, 27 teams of the State Disaster Response Force and 10 from the National Disaster Response Force have been deployed in various districts.
In Patna’s Gandhi Ghat, the Ganga was flowing at 50.57 metres at 6 am on Sunday, which is 0.05 metres above its previous highest flood level (HFL) of 50.52 metres, recorded on August 21. In Pandarak, the river was flowing at 43.92 metres at 6 am, which is 0.19 metres above its previous HFL of 43.73 metres on August 16.
Several rivers such as the Gandak was flowing above the danger mark at Dumariaghat and Hajipur, the Kosi at Baltara and Kursela, the Budhi Gandak at Khagaria, the Ganga at Hathidah, Bhagalpur, Kahalgaon, Buxar and Munger, the Punpun at Sripalpur, the Bagmati at Benibad and the Ghaghra at Darauli, officials said.
This was caused by heavy rainfall in the state and neighbouring Jharkhand. In September, the state received 69.1 mm of rainfall so far, which is 55 per cent above normal.
Officials said that Hathidah and other gauge stations in the state capital were likely to be impacted over the next one to three days, as the Ganga’s water level topped the HFL at Gandhi Ghat in Patna following heavy rain.
Due to the rise in water levels of various rivers, around 22.42 lakh people in Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar, Lakhisarai and Arwal have been affected by floods, they said.
According to an advisory by the Water Resources Department (WRD), the water level of the Ganga at Hathidah may also cross its previous HFL, prompting heightened vigilance in Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur and Katihar districts.
Officials have been directed to remain alert and continuously monitor water levels, embankments, vulnerable locations and low-lying areas, while taking precautionary measures as required. People in affected areas have been advised to avoid going near the river and remain cautious, the advisory stated.
The local administration has also been asked to monitor boat operations, prevent overloading and keep residents informed about the situation.
The weather officer here has forecast light to moderate rainfall at several places across the state during the next two days, with the possibility of heavy rain at some locations.
The opposition parties in Bihar sought a national disaster status for the floods in the state.
Claiming that 76 per cent of the state has been affected by floods, RJD national working president Tejashwi Yadav said 19 districts were reeling under the deluge, with more than 20 lakh people affected.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly took to X to say that livestock have been swept away and public infrastructure severely damaged, while property worth thousands of crores has been lost in the floods.
He accused the Bihar government of being “indifferent” towards the plight of the flood-affected people, and urged the Centre to immediately declare the situation a national disaster and provide special financial assistance to the state.
Yadav also sought the deployment of IAF helicopters for rescue operations, and requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Bihar, assess the situation on the ground and announce relief measures. (PTI)
