More areas inundated in Muzaffarpur, Champaran, 10 die in Sitamarhi

MOTIHARI/SITAMARHI/MUZAFFARPUR: Floodwaters entered more areas of East Champaran, Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur districts and inundated hundreds of villages in the low-lying areas of north Bihar on Monday.
Bagmati and Lalbakeya rivers crossed the danger mark near Pachpakari and posed a serious threat to Patahi, Dhaka, Fenehgara and Madhuban blocks in East Champaran. DM Raman Kumar visited the marooned villages.According to reports, around four lakhs people are affected and 10 have lost their lives in the district floods.
Road links were snapped in many blocks, including Patahi, in the district. Train services have also been suspended on Raxaul-Sitamarhi route for the last two days as floodwaters were flowing over the tracks at three points.
Gandak and Burhi Gandak floodwaters spilled over in 40 villages of Ramgarhwa, Raxaul, Lakhaura, Motihari, Chiraiya, Pakaridayal Banjariya and Turkauiliya blocks.
Motihari SDM Priy Ranjan Raju said a ring bund at Burhi Gandak in Sugauli was washed away while the left embankment of Tilawe river near Fulwar and small bund at Banjariya have been breached. Floodwaters overtopped the Motihari-Lakhaura road at two places. SDM Raju said four boats were pressed into relief and rescue operations.
Around 100 families were taking shelter on the Dhaka Jihuli-Sheohar road and 50 families were near the rail line at Kumdawa Chainpur on Raxaul-Sitamarhi rail section for the last two days.
The community kitchen or relief distribution had not started yet. According to flood control division sources, water level in Bagmati river started rising again on Monday after receding on Saturday.
Over 5 lakh of the population in Sitamarhi were affected as Bagmati, Lalbakeya, Lakhandei, Rato, Marar, Hardi and Adhwara group of rivers were flowing above the danger mark, but maintained a receding trend. Floodwaters also entered the low-lying areas of Sitamarhi town and snapped all links to dozens of villages. Roads have been washed away in Suppi and Majorganj blocks. People have no basic amenities, including electricity and drinking water. Fodder scarcity is a major problem for the livestock.
NDRF and SDRF personnel have been deployed and relief and rescue operations were launched in several blocks. Altogether 150 boats were pressed into rescue operations in Sitamarhi district. DM Ranjeet Kumar Singh also visited many villages on tractor and foot.
In Muzaffarpur, DM Alok Ranjan Ghosh called an emergency meeting late Sunday night and directed the officials to visit the affected areas. “I have sought more NDRF and SDRF teams as most of the rivers, including Gandak, Burhi Gandak along with Bagmati and its tributaries are flowing above the danger level at some places despite a receding trend,” he said.