Torrential rains paralyse normal life in Bihar's Patna: Death toll reaches 228

Heavy rains lashed Bihar’s capital city, paralysing normal life with several localities remaining submerged in knee-deep water on Monday. “We have received more than 100 mm rainfall in Patna since Sunday night. As a result several localities remain waterlogged much to the inconvenience of the people,” Patna Municipal Commissioner Abhishek Singh told PTI. The areas like Gardanibagh, Patel Nagar, Rajvanshi Nagar, Adalatganj, Kankerbagh and Rajendra Nagar were worst-affected with waterlogging, he said. Singh said that 37 pumps with the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) had been pressed to service to drain out the rain water. It would take three-four hours to drain out rain water, he said, adding that if needed addition pumps would be pressed into service for the purpose. Meanwhile, the Patna Municipal Corporation released landline and mobile numbers of its control room to enable the people to register complaint against waterlogging in their respective areas, the Patna Municipal Commissioner said. The PMC Control Room landline and mobile phone numbers are -0612-2200634, 09798261371/09798261372, Singh added. With six more deaths, the toll in Bihar floods increased to 228 even as the flood situation eased with all major rivers except Punpun, Kosi and Kamlabalan, flowing below danger mark. Three persons each died in districts of Saran and Begusarai, a Disaster Management Department statement said. [caption id=“attachment_3000902” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Residents in a flood-hit locality in Gaya. PTI[/caption] At least, 31.30 lakh people have been affected in 1,725 villages of 12 districts in Bihar, the release said. As per the department’s release, a total of 3.94 lakh people have been evacuated from the 12 flood-affected districts of Buxar, Bhojpur, Patna, Vaishali, Saran, Begusarai, Samastipur, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Munger, Bhagalpur and Katihar. The government has deployed 2,537 boats for evacuation, while national and state disaster response forces were already working in the affected districts, it said. 1.98 lakh people have taken shelter in 271 relief camps. The number of camps has gone down from yesterday’s 318. A total of 220 camps are being operated for cattle affected by flooding. According to the Bihar water resources department, Punpun river at Sripalpur in Patna, Kosi river at Baltara in Khagaria district and Kamlabalan in Jhanjharpur district were flowing above danger level. The Ganga continued to recede at Digha ghat, Gandhi ghat and Hathidah in Patna district and Buxar, Munger, Kahalgaon and Bhagalpur in Bhagalpur district, the release added. With inputs from PTI