Bihar issues flood alert in five districts

Bihar issued a flood alert in five districts Saturday following a heavy gush of water in Son river from Indrapuri Barrage, an official said.

"We have sent alerts to the district magistrates of Arwal, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Jehanabad and Patna in view of likely floods in low lying areas along the Son after the discharge of nearly three lakh cusecs of water from Indrapuri Barrage caused by incessant rain," an official of the state disaster management department said.

The district magistrates have been asked to shift people to safer places and provide all possible help in case of flooding, the official said.

The water level in Son river is likely to increase by Saturday night, said an official of the water resources department.

Last month over 1.8 million people in Bihar's 15 districts were affected by flooding caused by a rise in the water level of major rivers including Kosi, Gandak, Bagmati and Ganga.