The flood situation in north Bihar on Monday turned grim, leaving 14 people dead and over 20 lakh in 12 districts badly affected, following incessant rain in the catchment areas of Nepal.
Government officials said rivers in north Bihar crossed the danger level and flooded 64 blocks. Around 280 to 300 mm rainfall was recorded in the past three-four days in Terai region of Nepal against 50 mm of average rainfall in the past years.
The bordering districts of north Bihar like Araria, Purnia, Katihar, Kishanganj, Saharsa, Supaul, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and East Champaran were flooded. Araria was the worst-affected with nine deaths reported so far.
As many as 23 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and SDRF have been deployed in the flood-hit districts.
“Around 350 community kitchens and over 150 relief camps have been made functional in the affected areas”, said Pratyay Amrit, Principal Secretary of the State Disaster Management Department.
The Opposition RJD, Congress and Left leaders on Monday created a ruckus in the Assembly over the flood situation and slammed the government for its ‘inept handling.’ They demanded a “special discussion” on the relief and rescue measures.
The ruling JD(U) said the government had been undertaking adequate relief and rehabilitation in the affected areas.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday conducted an aerial survey of Araria, Katihar and Kishanganj and later at a meeting with top officials directed them to take all possible relief measures.
“The government has failed to handle the perennial floods in north Bihar districts”, charged senior RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui.
Earlier on Sunday, ruling party MP from Jhanjharpur in Madhubani district Ramprit Mandal had to face the wrath of residents in flood-hit Naruar village.
