Bihar: Train services yet to resume on Darbhanga-Samastipur section

SAMASTIPUR/KHAGARIA/DARBHANGA/BAGAHA: Flood situation continued to remain grim in the low lying areas of as many as 14 districts in north Bihar.
In Samastipur, train operations could not be resumed on Darbhanga-Samastipur section as 107 villages under six blocks were either fully or partly submerged under Burhi Gandak floodwaters. Altogether 71,155 halogen tablets have been distributed along with 128 packets of bleaching powder.
In Khagaria, seepage in Burhi Gandak embankment near Jalkaura village under Khagaria block on Monday created panic. ADM Shatrunjay Mishra with a team of engineers rushed to the spot and the seepage was plugged.
Although Kosi and Bagmati rivers were receding, flood situation remained grim. According to official sources, around 97,000 people in 116 villages under 39 panchayats were reportedly affected by the floods.
DM Alok Ranjan Ghosh said community kitchens were being run at seven places for 19,374 affected people.
In Darbhanga, 18.71 lakh people in 911 villages under 15 blocks were flood affected. The district administration is running 519 community kitchens.
The receding floodwaters in nine blocks of West Champaran district have left a trail of misery as crops in around 38,443 hectares of land were damaged. “Farmers are facing starvation-like situation,” said Ramchandar Bind of Shripatinagar of Semra Labdeha panchayat under Piparasi block.
Yogendar Rai of the same block said even though water receded, the land will not be conducive for cultivation due to the huge deposit of sand and silt by the swollen rivers.