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No change in Bihar, U.P. flood situation

Patna Sept. 18. The death toll in Bihar rose to 171 today as the flood situation remained grim with the Ganga and its tributaries flowing above the danger level.

According to Central Water Commission (CWC) reports, the Ganga was flowing above danger marks ranging from 38 cms to 221 cms at Dighaghat and Gandhighat in Patna, Hathidah, Bhagalpur, Kahalgaon and Farakka. Water levels of Kosi, Burhi Gandak and Sone were also above danger levels at different points.

Meanwhile, state government sources said more than 53 lakh people in 23 districts were still reeling under the impact of flood and the army was assisting the civil authorities in rescue and relief operations. It said standing crops in an area of 3.92 lakh hectares worth over Rs 54.36 crores and 38,928 houses had been damaged due to floods. Over 3,800 boats had been engaged for carrying out relief and rescue operation and 288 relief centres and 408 health centres were functional in flood-hit districts. Army helicopters and motorboats had been pressed into service to rescue marooned people and drop food packets, the sources said.

A Muzaffarpur district report quoting official sources said three girls and a woman were drowned in the swollen Bagmati river at Khemkarna Pakri village.

CPI-M MP from Bhagalpur, Subodh Roy, after making a survey of flood affected areas of his constituency termed the situation as grim and requested the Government to step up relief measures in the district.

The MET office forecast medium to heavy rains in the upper catchment areas of the Kosi, Mahananda, Bagmati, Kamla balan and Adhwara group of rivers in next 24 hours.

Ganga, Yamuna rise again

Following release of water from the Ken and Betava rivers at Hamirpur, water levels of both the Ganga and Yamuna has started rising again in Allahabad.

According to the Central Water Commission, the water levels of both the rivers were rising at the rate of roughly two and four cm per hour respectively.

Health department and Nagar Nigam have started sanitising the flood affected areas. However, the affected people feared outbreak of diseases and alleged that garbage was still to be cleared from their respective localities.

Meanwhile, Akhil Bharatiya Mahila Congress President Rita Bahuguna visited the affected areas and urged the district administration to send teams of doctors to rural areas to provide medical aid to the villagers. -- UNI

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