Flood death toll rises to 165, 37.53 lakh people affected

Patna, Aug 30 (PTI) With six more deaths, the toll inBihar floods today rose to 165, even as the swollen Ganga,whose water level started showing a receding trend, hasaffected 37.53 lakh people in 12 districts of the state. The six deaths have been reported from Bhojpur district, astatement by the Disaster Management Department said. The flood has been caused mainly by a spate in river Gangaapart from Sone, Punpun, Burhi Gandak, Ghaghra, Kosi andother rivers which have affected 37.53 lakh people in 2,029villages under 576 panchayats of 74 blocks of 12 districts inthe state, it said. Ganga, though showing a receding trend, is still flowingabove the danger mark at seven places – Digha Ghat, GandhiGhat, Hathidah in Patna, Bhagalpur and Kahalgaon in Bhagalpurdistrict and in Munger as well as in Buxar districts. The receding trend was witnessed at Gandhi Ghat and DighaGhat, thus reducing the threat of flood waters entering thePatna town. A total of 7.15 lakh people have been evacuated so farfrom the 12 flood-affected districts of Buxar, Bhojpur, Patna,Vaishali, Saran, Begusarai, Samastipur, Lakhisarai, Khagaria,Munger, Bhagalpur and Katihar, the statement said. The government is plying 2,818 boats for evacuation andnational and state disaster response forces have already beendeployed in the affected districts. A total of 644 relief camps are being run in the flood-hitareas in which 3.92 lakh people have taken shelter. They arebeing provided medical services by 507 teams. A total of 185 camps are being operated for cattle whilethe number of animal deaths has reached to 59 in the floods. The concerned authorities are making an estimate of thetotal affected areas due to floods and areas undercultivation. Also, the assessment for crop damage was beingmade by the authorities, the statement said. Arrangements have been made for providing food and otheritems and the government has so far distributed 8885 quintalsof flattened rice, 1675 quintals of jaggery, 164 quintalsof sattu, 163155 matchsticks packets, 113666 packets ofcandles, 80511 polythene sheets and 2,96,169 dry food packets,it said. PTI AR MM MRJMRJ