Flood situation grim in north Bihar

BAGAHA/ SITAMARHI/ KHAGARIA: Lakhs of people across 12 districts in north Bihar continue to face flood-related hardships with most rivers in the region continuing to swell amid heavy rain in their catchment areas.
In Sitamarhi, incessant rain in the catchment areas of rivers in the district and those flowing in from Nepal, led to a surge in the water level in Bagmati, Lalbakeya Jhim, Rato, Maraha, Marar, Manushamara, Lakhandei and Hardi. All rivers were flowing above the danger mark at several places in the district.
Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi issued a statement on Tuesday which stated that around 23 lakh people will get benefit of free ration for five months under the ‘Aatmnirbhar Bharat’ scheme despite the hassles due to floods. “We are ensuring that per person 25kg food grain and per family 5kg pulses are distributed despite the issues in distribution of ration food due to the floods,” he stated.
In West Champaran, barring Gandak and Masan, smaller hilly rivers such as Haraha, Bhapsa, Jhikeri, Kosil, Kapon and Sonaha were in spate on Tuesday due to heavy rain in their catchment areas in the past 24 hours. Gandak and Masan eroded their banks in Jharmahuyee village under Bagaha -1 block, Kuari, Nagahi and Muzahi Gandak diara areas.
“Flood water carrying silt has spread over fertile land, which has destroyed paddy and sugarcane cultivated area,” Tharu Welfare Federation West Champaran president Deepnarain Prasad said.
The Sitamarhi district administration has organised vigils and patrolling of the embankments. Altogether 119 panchayats in 13 blocks are affected due to flood. Sursand, Parihar, Choraut, Bokhara, Bajpatti,Runnisaidpur, Belsand, Dumra, Riga, Suppi, Bairgania,Sonbarsa and Bathanaha blocks are experiencing flood. Shelter homes are functional in several blocks. A few community kitchens are serving food to the flood ravaged villagers in Parihar, Sonbarsa and Runnisaidpur blocks.
Road communications have not been restored between Sitamarhi-Sursand, Sitamarhi-Parihar, Sitamarhi-Sheohar and Lagma-Bhasepur. In Khagaria, flood threat to fresh areas eases as major rivers Kosi and Bagmati showed receding trend on Tuesday. The situation, however, remained grim as the flood has been stagnant in the affected villages. Road communication in many parts of the district has been disrupted causing great hardships to the people of the region. The daily flood bulletin issued by the district administration on Tuesday stated that 92 villages spread over seven blocks have been affected by the flood waters. The flood-hit population in the district stands at 76,380, the bulletin stated, adding three community kitchens are being run feeding around 2,700 people while around 3,400 food packets apart from over 700 polyethylene sheets have been distributed so far.
Khagaria DM Alok Ranjan Ghosh said the administration was geared up to tackle floods. All BDOs and COs have been asked to provide adequate boats and relief materials to the marooned.