50 villages flooded in Muzaffarpur

MUZAFFARPUR: Tirhut divisional commissioner Narmadeshwar Lal on Sunday asked officials concerned to keep a close watch on embankments in the region amid rise in water level in several rivers.
The Bagmati has virtually created havoc in Aurai, Katra and Gaighat blocks of Muzaffarpur district, posting flood threat to 150 villages. Floodwaters of the Bagmati, the Lakhandai and the Gandak have already inundated 50 villages in the three blocks, forcing people to move to safer places.
People living in Benipur Sarhanchia, Baigna, Jagatpur, Sundartola, Tarbanna, Chahunta and Bara Buzurg left for safer places after the floodwaters of the Bagmati submerged their houses.High-rise buildings and government offices, including panchayat bhawans, are the places where people are taking shelter.
District magistrate Alok Ranjan Ghosh said the administration has pressed boats into service to evacuate affected people. “We have identified 150 places vulnerable to floods and asked the officials concerned to keep a close vigil on the situation. NDRF and SDRF personnel are also at work,” the DM added.
Ghosh said all block development officers and circle officers of affected blocks have been asked to camp at their headquarters and update the administration about flood situation every two hours.
Sheohar DM Arshad Aziz said some parts of the district were still inundated. “Altogether 33 relief camps have been set up in the district. Rise in the Bagmati water level has affected at least 18 panchayats,” he said.