BJP calls on Centre, Bihar to join hands to resolve flood-linked crisis

Floods in Bihar have claimed 156 lives so far, and affected the lives of lakhs of people in 12 districts. Given the extent of the damage to life, livestock, crops and property, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday appealed to both the Centre and the Bihar government to join hands to provide relief and rehabilitation to the people.

Party leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain told ANI that the situation in Bihar is grim.

"We do not want any politics in this matter. The Bihar government should run relief camps and resue operations efficiently. I really want that at this hour of crises, the central and state governments should come together for the betterment of the people of Bihar," Hussain said.

"The water level is rising in Kosi, Ganga and many other rivers, due to which people are really worried. The Bharatiya Janata Party is also on their toes to provide help to the people as much they can," said Hussain.

The flood has been caused by a spate in the rivers Ganga, Sone, Punpun, Burhi Gandak, Ghaghra and Kosi, besides other rivers, and has affected 37.21 lakh people in 2,024 villages under 569 panchayats in 12 districts of the state, the state disaster management department said in a statement.

The Ganga is flowing above the danger mark at seven places - Digha Ghat, Gandhi Ghat, Hathidah in Patna, Bhagalpur and Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district, besides in Munger and Buxar districts.

Over 34 lakh people are reeling under the impact of the floods. According to the Central Water Commission, the waters of the River Burhi Gandak are flowing above danger mark at Khagaria.

The River Ganga is maintaining a rising trend at Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur and is flowing above the danger mark.

The River Punpun is also flowing above the danger mark at Sripalpur. Flood waters have entered the Naugachia divisional jail.

Over 200 inmates of this jail are being shifted to the Bhagalpur central jail. The local court of Naugachia has also been flooded.

Flood waters have breached several places on National Highway 80, affecting the movement of vehicular traffic.

The surging waters have entered over a dozen panchayats that fall under the jurisdiction of the Kursaila block of Katihar district. Low lying areas of Munger and Khagaria are also inundated.