Rivers in spate, flood situation grim in Bihar

Patna, Aug 21 (PTI) With the rise in level of the Ganga,Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today expressed apprehensionof further rise in water level by tomorrow in view of releaseof water from Bansagar dam as flood-like situation prevailedin state. Kumar, who held a high level meeting to assess thesituation, later went on an aerial survey of Patna, Bhojpur,Saran, Vaishali, Begusarai and Khagaria. He told reporters there is at the moment no possibility offlood waters entering into Patna city. Meanwhile the rising water level of Ganga has more orless created flood-like situation in all the districtssituated along the banks of the river in Bihar. Ganga and six other rivers were flowing above danger markin Patna, Bhagalpur, Khagaria, Katihar, Siwan, Bhojpur, Buxarand Hajipur districts, a disaster management departmentstatement said. Ganga was flowing above danger mark at six places invarious parts of three districts – Digha ghat, Gandhi ghat,Hathidah in Patna, Bhagalpur and Kahalgaon in Bhagalpurdistrict, Munger district and Buxar district. The districts which are witnessing flood-like situationincluded – Patna, Vaishali, Buxar, Bhojpur, Saran, Begusarai,Samastipur, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Munger, Bhagalpur andKatihar, the department statement said. Around 15,000 people are sheltered in 82 relief campsafter being evacuated from flood affected areas, it saidadding that all camps have the facilities of medical team withmedicines. Stating that several districts of Bihar have been facingthe threat of inundation, Kumar said that "The water level ofGanga has increased due to release of water from Indrapuribarrage and other rivers merging into Ganga. "Besides, a huge volume of water has been released fromBansagar dam and it is expected that water level, which hasreduced, will once again rise by tonight or tomorrow morning,"Kumar said. The chief minister held Farakka dam responsible for slowdischarge of water from Ganga which has become shallow due toheavy siltation. This causes flood water to spread to otherareas. He appealed to people to vacate the rivebank areas andcome to relief camps which would provide them proper food andshelter. MORE PTI AR SUSKUN