Bihar floods: Rivers flow above danger mark, 13 die

There is no relief in the flood situation in Bihar as the deluge has entered into several new areas and snapped connectivity with the district headquarters.

River Gandak, which is flowing above the danger mark, has washed away the approach road ahead of the Sattarghat Mahasetu in Gopalganj district by 20 metres. The discharge from river Gandak was 4 lakh cusecs on 23 July. With the river in full fury, Rajwahi and other several villages have already been inundated. Moreover, traffic on the important roads has also come to a grinding halt.

District Magistrate of Gopalganj district, Arshad Aziz said, “A seepage was observed on Wednesday and officials from the bridge construction department have been put on high alert and they have worked round-the-clock to plug the same, but due to the heavy pressure of flood water, the road has been washed away.”

He informed that the repair work is in full swing and traffic is likely to be restored on all the important roads. The flood situation in Bihar continues to remain grim. The swelling waters of Bagmati and Adhwara have cut off several areas from district headquarters in Sitamarhi district of Bihar. Water is flowing atleast 4ft above the Bairgainiya Reega road connecting Nepal at Bakhri. At least 13 people had died by drowning in the floodwater. Thousands of hectares of standing paddy crop have been washed away. The biggest problem people are facing is how to take care of their cattle and finding fodder for them.

Vehicular traffic has been disrupted on the important routes and people had to rely on boats to commute from one side to the other. Villagers are forced to seek shelter along the highway or in upper areas and are blaming the state government for having left them to fend for themselves.