Flood alert in Bihar as Ganga flows above danger mark

New Delhi, Aug 19 (PTI) An alert was sounded as the threatof floods returned in Bihar with the Ganga and four otherrivers flowing above the danger mark even as temperatures inmost parts of Punjab and Haryana today rose with the mercurysettling three notches above normal in the northern states. The districts of Bihar situated on the banks of the Gangahave been put on alert as the Central Water Commission todaywarned Ganga basin districts that the river may witness a risein water level for next one to five days. Due to the increase in the water level of the Ganga,waters have reportedly entered into the riverine areas of thedistricts like Patna, Buxar, Bhojpur, Munger, Saran, Vaishali,Bhagalpur and Samastipur, a Disaster Management Departmentstatement said. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, alreadypre-positioned in Patna, Vaishali and Gopalganj, have been puton alert while State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have beenput on alert in Patna and Bhagalpur, it said. Ganga and four other rivers — Punpun, Ghaghra, Kosiand Burhi Gandak — are flowing above danger mark in Patna,Bhagalpur and Buxar districts, the statement said. Maximum temperatures hovered from one degree celsius abovenormal to three notches above normal in most parts of Punjaband Haryana, the MeT office said. Ambala and Hisar settled at an identical high of 36.7degrees celsius, three notches each above normal. While Patiala had a high of 36.5 degrees celsius, threenotches above normal, the maximum at Amritsar was 36.4 degreescelsius, two notches above normal. Chandigarh and Ludhiana settled at an identical high of35.5 degrees celsius each, three and two notches respectivelyabove normal. The MeT department forecast light to moderate rainfallat few places in the region during the next 48 hours. It was a sultry day in Delhi with high humidity levelstroubling Delhiites even as mercury settled at normal levels. "The maximum and minimum temperatures settled at 34.4 and26.4 degrees Celsius, both normal for this time of the year,"a MeT official said. The three other metropolitan cities of Kolkata, Chennaiand Mumbai recorded maximum temperatures of 33.1, 38.4, and30.7 degrees Celsius respectively. MORE PTI TEAM KUN ZMNKUN