This story is from July 23, 2020

Many in Champaran take shelter on NH

Many in Champaran take shelter on NH
MOTIHARI/BAGAHA: Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Bagmati, Lalbakeya and other rivers were in spate and flowing above the danger mark on Wednesday following torrential rain during the last three days in the foothills of Nepal and catchment area of East Champaran district.
Though the water was receding at Valmikinagar barrage from highest 3.40 lakh cusecs to 2.64 lakh cusecs at 3pm on Wednesday, a large number of people in the low-lying areas of Semara-Labdeha, Manjharia, Balua-Thori, Sisahi, Lakshmipur Rampurwa, Chiurahi, Parsauna, Motipur Shrinagar, Salaha-Bariyarawa and Raibari-Mahuyawa panchayats under Bagaha subdivision in West Champaran were affected by the floods.
Around 15,000 people were taking refuse at a safer ace or on Pipara-Piparasi and Champaran embankments.
Swirling waters of hilly rivers like Tilawe, Sarisawa, Bangari and Dudhaura entered the low-lying areas in the bordering villages under Patahi, Dhaka, Chiraiya, Fenehara and Madhuban blocks. Road traffic was also disrupted between East Champaran and Sheohar as 4 feet of floodwaters were flowing on a stretch of 200 metres on the road near Dewapur. The Burhi Gandak was surging at several points across Sugauli, Ramgarhwa, Banjariya and Motihari blocks. The ring bund of Burhi Gandak was breached at Dhawahi and gushing waters inundated 17 villages of Sugauli block on Wednesday.
The floodwaters entered Sugauli police station and Sugauli market areas as well. The Burhi Gandak also inundated 14 villages in Banjariya block near Motihari. The Banjariya block office was under knee-deep water and officials were shifted to an old building near Motihari. Relief and rescue operation has been started in the affected areas and community kitchen would start soon, said Anil Kumar, ADM (disaster management).
DM Shirshat Kapil Ashok said the NDRF and SDRF teams were deployed. The old, children and pregnant women were being shifted to safer places by motorboats. The Gandak (Narayani) was rising fast in Paharpur, Areraj, Sangrampur and Kesariya and around 34 villages in the embankment areas were inundated. The floodwaters entered the houses and the villagers with their domestic animals were taking shelter at in schools and on NH28 near Dumariya Ghat bridge. The DM said community kitchens were being run for the displaced people.

In Bagaha, the people by the floods of the Gandak and Masan rivers were facing food crisis. Bumper standing paddy and sugar cane crops were destroyed. Mahatam Mukhia, the husband of Lilawati Devi of Shrinagar panchayat, said the entire panchayat was deluged and around 3,000 families were shifted by countryboats to Patazirwa. No succour was provided by the administration so far, said Surendar Yadav of Motipur panchayat.
Bhola Gupta, the mukhiya of Parsauna panchayat, distributed 500gm chura and 100gm jaggery to each affected person but it like a drop in the ocean. Bhuyeedharwa panchayat mukhiya Chandeshwar Singh did not even visit the affected Sekhpatti village, alleged Allauddin and Mumtaz Mian, who were taking shelter on the PP embankment.
Manorma Devi of Semra Labdeha panchayat said gushing floodwaters through the gap of rail bund near Shripatinagar had affected 800 families but the government. Ganesh Mukhia and Moharam Mian said, “We have been rendered homeless by the devastating Gandak floods and facing starvation-like situation.”
Bagaha-2 block circle inspector (revenue) said three community kitchens had been opened at Bherihari Colony middle school for Chakadahawab flood victims and two community kitchen for ward number 4 and 8 under Bagaha Nagar Parishad.
Meanwhile, torrential rain during the last four consecutive days made life hellish in Bagaha Nagar parishad area as rainwater was flowing on the roads of ward number 5, 23, 28 and sub-divisional hospital. Even power station was waterlogged.
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