Bihar

Patna: Over 29.65 lakh people in about 1000 villages of five north eastern districts of Bihar still remained in the grip of flood despite the situation improving on Thursday with the water level receding following a fall in the discharge of water into the Kosi river from Nepal. The five districts are of Madhepura, Araria, Supaul, Saharsa and Purnia districts, which have reported 37 deaths so far, official sources said.

Over 9.88 lakh people have been evacuated to safer places by the army, navy and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel, Disaster Management Department Additional Commissioner Pratyay Amrit said. The total death toll in the 16 affected districts shot up to 97 on Thursday with Saharsa accounting for 16, Madhepura 15, Supaul 3, Araria 2 and Purnia 1, Amrit said.

More than 3.26 lakh people were taking shelter in the 324 relief camps, besides many taking shelter in shanties. The government has supplied 91,252 polythene sheets, besides food and medicare to the flood victims, Amrit said. The flood situation improved following little rain in the upper catchment areas of the rivers, a Central Water Commission (CWC) report said.

However, moderate rainfall is forecasted in the upper catchment areas of all major rivers of Bihar, the report said. Over 3 lakh food packets have been distributed among the victims so far of which 1,16,2833 were airdropped by IAF choppers. Besides, cooked food was being served to those taking shelter in relief camps, a disaster management department release said.

Water resources department sources said that the protection work on the cut ends of the East Kosi afflux embankment, both up and downstreams, at the breach site at Kusaha in Nepal was progressing at a fast pace. The strengthening of the cut ends is required to prevent any further widening of the breach as also for its closure. A high-level team of experts aided by by chief engineers, two superintending engineers, four executive engineers, ten assistant engineers and 12 junior engineers and others were busy strengthening the cut ends and spurs at the breach site, official sources said. (PTI)