Bihar floods: Death toll climbs to 165, over 37 lakh people affected

Patna: With six more deaths, the toll in Bihar floods on Tuesday rose to 165, even as the swollen Ganga, whose water level started showing a receding trend, has affected 37.53 lakh people in 12 districts of the state. [caption id=“attachment_2970522” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Houses submerge in floodwater in Bihar. PTI[/caption] The six deaths have been reported from Bhojpur district, a statement by the Disaster Management Department said. The flood has been caused mainly by a spate in river Ganga apart from Sone, Punpun, Burhi Gandak, Ghaghra, Kosi and other rivers which have affected 37.53 lakh people in 2,029 villages under 576 panchayats of 74 blocks of 12 districts in the state, it said. Ganga, though showing a receding trend, is still flowing above the danger mark at seven places - Digha Ghat, GandhiGhat, Hathidah in Patna, Bhagalpur and Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district and in Munger as well as in Buxar districts. The receding trend was witnessed at Gandhi Ghat and Digha Ghat, thus reducing the threat of flood waters entering the Patna town. A total of 7.15 lakh people have been evacuated so far from 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 and national and state disaster response forces have already been deployed in the affected districts. A total of 644 relief camps are being run in the flood-hit areas in which 3.92 lakh people have taken shelter. They are being provided medical services by 507 teams. A total of 185 camps are being operated for cattle while the number of animal deaths has reached to 59 in the floods. The concerned authorities are making an estimate of the total affected areas due to floods and areas under cultivation. Also, the assessment for crop damage was being made by the authorities, the statement said. Arrangements have been made for providing food and other items and the government has so far distributed 8885 quintals of flattened rice, 1675 quintals of jaggery, 164 quintals of sattu, 163155 matchsticks packets, 113666 packets of candles, 80511 polythene sheets and 2,96,169 dry food packets, it said.