Rivers in spate, Bihar flood situation still grim

Many rivers were flowing above danger level in Bihar as swirling flood waters continued to wreak havoc in the state with 26.19 lakh people affected.
Rivers which are flowing above danger level are Baghmati at Benibad, Kamlabalan at Jhanjharpur, Kosi at Baltara, Mahananda at Dhengra ghat and Jhawa in the state, the Disaster Management Department said in a statement.
Two more districts of East Champaran and Muzaffarpur were declared as flood-hit today, it said.
With no more fresh deaths reported, the toll stood at 26 - 8 in Supaul district, followed by 7 in Purnea, 5 in Kishangaj, 2 each in Madhepura and Katihar and 1 each in Araria and Saharsa, the department said.

The department officials said 26.19 lakh people residing in 2,034 villages in 60 flood-affected blocks of 12 districts have been rendered homeless.
The 12 districts which are affected by the flood are - Araria, Supaul, Darbhanga, Purnea, Kishanganj, Katihar, Madhepura, Bahgalpur, Saharsa, Gopalganj, East Champaran and Muzaffarpur.

Around 1.86 lakh hectares of land have been affected by the floods caused due to rise in the water levels of rivers Mahananda, Bakhra, Kankai, Parmar and Kosi.
Crops spread over 3.39 lakh hectares have been affected even as the quantum of loss was under assessment.
Around 4.81 lakh people have been displaced while 2.47 lakh people were sheltered in the 412 relief camps being run by the government.

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In view of the rivers in spate in 10 districts, the state government has kept ready one NDRF team each for Supaul, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Didarganj in Patna, while one SDRF team each has been at Khagaria, Sitamarhi, Purnia, Madhubani, Bhagalpur and Madhepura.
The Disaster Management Department has said that teams of NDRF and SDRF will carry out rescue and relief works in the district.
Besides, 42,100 food packets have been distributed among the flood-affected people, which includes - 500 gm of sattu, 2 kg of chura (bitten rice), 250 gm sugar, small salt packet, candle, match, box, a torch, powder milk etc.