Cofferdam washed away in Muzaffarpur, flood-like situation in Sitamarhi

MUZAFFARPUR/SITAMARHI: Floodwaters washed away a newly constructed cofferdam on Bagmati river at Benipur under Aurai block of Muzaffarpur district Friday evening, inundating 50 villages under Aurai Katra and Gaighat blocks and snapping road links at several places. Torrential rain in north Bihar and Nepal for the last five days has flooded several villages in Sitamarhi district where schools have been closed till July 20.
Bagmati project executive engineer of Runni Saidpur division, Md Shabbir, confirmed that 200 metres of the cofferdam was washed away at Benipur, but said the embankments were safe.
Reports reaching flood control room of water resources department in Muzaffarpur stated that the rising water level in Bagmati river had posed erosion threat at Benibad and Madhurpatti ghats under Gaighat block.
Muzaffarpur DM Alok Ranjan Ghosh said people from the flooded villages have been advised to move to safer places. “Nearly 140 villages have been identified for rescue operations. We have pressed boats and motorboats in adequate numbers for carrying out rescue operations. Even NDRF and SDRF personnel have also reached the district,” he said.
Sitamarhi DM Ranjeet Kumar Singh has ordered the schools to remain shut till July 20. The DM also inspected several villages under Majorganj block along the eastern embankment of Bagmati river. “Around 30 villages in Sitamarhi have been affected by the swollen river. Section 144 has been clamped on the areas along the embankment of Bagmati river, which is flowing 3 metres above the danger mark at Dubba Ghat in Parsauni block,” Singh said.
“Leave of officials has been cancelled in view of flood-like situation in eight blocks of Sitamarhi district. SDRF and NDRF teams have been called. A small unit of SDRF team has been pressed into rescue works in Parihar block. Twenty villages have been affected by the swollen Marha and Hardi rivers. Floodwaters entered the block office and PHC. Road communication from Sitamarhi town to several blocks has also been disrupted,” the DM said.
Road communication to Bairgania and Majorganj block headquarters has also been disrupted. Bairgania, Suppi, Majorganj, Parsauni, Belsand, Runnisaidpur, Sonbarsa and Parihar blocks are affected by rainwater and spate in the Nepal rivers.
Three children drown: Three children drowned while taking a bath in ponds at different places in Muzaffarpur district in the last 24 hours.