22 persons killed, over 23 lakh affected in Bihar floods

At least 22 persons have been killed while 23.71 lakh people affected in the Bihar floods with many areas, specially the riverine belt of 12 districts badly reeling under water in the state.
The floods caused by a spate in rivers Ganga, Sone, Punpun, Burhi Gandak, Ghaghra and Kosi have affected 23.71 lakh people in 1115 villages under 362 panchayats in 12 districts of the state, a Disaster Management Department statement said.
Bhojpur district, which accounted for the maximum number of deaths, reported 12 deaths followed by Vaishali (6), Bhagalpur (2) and one each in Buxar and Lakhisarai district.
Ganga was flowing above danger mark at seven places in various parts of four districts - Digha ghat, Gandhi ghat, Hathidah in Patna, Bhagalpur and Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district, Munger district and Buxar district.

River Sone was flowing above danger level by 129 cm near Maner in Patna.
The 12 flood-affected districts of the state are Buxar, Bhojpur, Patna, Vaishali, Saran, Begusarai, Samastipur, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Munger, Bhagalpur and Katihar, the statement said.

The authorities concerned were making an estimation of the total affected areas due to floods and areas under cultivation. Besides, the assessment for crop damage was being made by the authorities, it said.
Patna District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agarwal today
visited various relief camps in the district and inspected food preparations and other arrangements.
"As per the Chief Minster's directive, we are serving them (the flood affected victims) food in stainless steel utensils. The administration is taking every possible step to ensure that people at the camps are being served proper food," Agarwal said.

Altogether 1,507 boats were being plied by the government to evacuate the affected people to safer places. The National and State Disaster Response Forces have been deployed in various parts of the flood affected districts, the statement said.
Arrangements have been made for food and other items with 1,315 quintal of flattened rice, 298 quintal jaggery, polythene sheets and dry food packets among others, the release said.
Meanwhile, one person died while nine others were missing in a boat capsize incident in Bihar's Aurangabad district.
The incident occurred near Klen village within the limits of Khudwa police station of the district when a boat carrying 20 persons was crossing River Punpun, but capsized due to heavy current, Daudnagar Deputy Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar said.

Out of 20, ten persons swam to safety while one person was killed in the incident and nine others were missing, he said, adding local divers have been pressed into service for the rescue operation and NDRF teams were on its way.