Falgu in spate as Gaya receives 68.8mm rain

GAYA/ARA/MOTIHARI: The impact of cyclone Yaas, which weakened into a depression in Jharkhand and Bihar on Thursday, was witnessed in the form of light to moderate rainfall in the state in the last 24 hours.
Places which received significant showers included Gaya (68.8mm), Bhagalpur (28.6mm), Purnia (20mm), Aurangabad (26.5mm) and Jamui (30mm).
At Gaya, moderate to heavy rain occurred throughout the day since morning, causing waterlogging on some roads in the town.Also, the water level in the Falgu rose due to heavy downpour in Jharkhand.
The rainwater flowing down the hills in Jharkhand reaches Falgu after Neelanjana river in Dobhi. A dam has been made at Ghoraghat in Dobhi block of Gaya to stop the water flowing from Jharkhand and use it for irrigation purpose in nearby villages.
Junior engineer Sanjeev Kumar and agriculture coordinator Anand Mohan have been deputed as magistrates for Ghoraghat dam to keep vigil on the situation.
Besides, other officials, including Gaya executive engineer of water resources department, Dobhi BDO, CO and the SHO have been asked to remain in constant touch with the magistrates. ADM (disaster management) has been asked to keep NDRF and the SDRF teams ready for deployment in any crisis situation. In Bhojpur, DM Roshan Kushwaha has asked civil surgeon and executive engineer of South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited at Ara and Jagdishpur to ensure uninterrupted power supply to Ara Sadar hospital, sub-divisional hospitals and primary health centres to ensure functioning of life-saving equipment without disruption.
The DM has also asked Bhojpur civil surgeon to coordinate with private hospitals and keep alternative power supply arrangements in ready mode for government as well as private hospitals. The civil surgeon has also been asked to keep ambulances in ready mode to deal with any eventuality.
Ara Municipal Corporation and nagar panchayat officials have been asked to keep pump sets, earthmovers and generators ready to clear waterlogging.
In East Champaran district, 10 trees were uprooted in Motihari, Raxaul, Chakiya, Areraj and few other places due to gusty winds.
A young couple riding a bike were killed on Motihari-Turkauliya road near Kathiya when a roadside tree uprooted and fell on the motorcycle.
Light to moderate rainfall occurred in West Champaran district since early morning. Gandak canals of water resources department, which originate from Valmikinagar, were closed in view of the cyclone.
(With inputs from Tirthraj Kushwaha in West Champaran)