This story is from August 13, 2021

Heavy rain floods markets, posh localities in Muzaffarpur town

Heavy rain floods markets, posh localities in Muzaffarpur town
Heavy rain continued to make lives difficult for people in Muzaffarpur town, once known as a commercial hub of north Bihar.
PATNA: Heavy rain continued to make lives difficult for people in Muzaffarpur town, once known as a commercial hub of north Bihar. Apart from the main markets, all posh localities in the town are submerged with knee to waist-deep rainwater. On Thursday, the district recorded 68.2mm rainfall.
Rainwater entered the residential premises, forcing residents to shift their kitchens either to the upper floors or the rooftop.

“Life has come to a standstill for the last couple of days. Drinking water has become scarce for the residents as water supply is disconnected. Garbage, waste and human excreta are flowing in rooms,” said Ajay Tripathi, a resident of Motijheel.
A similar condition is prevailing in other localities like Brahmapura, Bibiganj, Bela, Rahul Nagar, Bhagwanpur, Pankha Toli, Nayatola, Jawaharlal Road, Balughat, Sikandarpur and Lakri Dhahi. The local sadar hospital is no exception.
“People had to wade through knee to thigh-deep water to reach the sadar hospital to take Covid vaccines. The road leading to the hospital has been blocked. Rainwater has also inundated the emergency ward,” said Pramod Kumar, a social activist.
Civil surgeon Dr Vinay Sharma said dozens of letters were written to the municipal corporation, drawing its attention towards waterlogging in the hospital, but to no avail. “This happens every year during monsoon. It’s a perennial problem here,” he said.

The residents complained that rainwater has not been drained out for over a month in some localities, leading to spread of skin diseases.
The main markets like Sutapatti, Saraiyaganj, Motijheel, Kalyani, Station Road and Kiran Chhapra are closed as water has entered shops and business establishments. “We have been ruined. Covid-induced lockdown and heavy rainfall have caused huge financial losses to us,” said Anil Gupta, a local trader.
Former mayor Vivek Kumar said people should boycott the municipal corporation election to be held next year due to hellish condition prevailing in the town. He blamed the political-bureaucratic “nexus” for the sorry state of affairs.
On Wednesday, deputy mayor Mar Mardan Shukla reviewed the situation in waterlogged localities. Shukla, who is also mayor incharge, told the officials of municipal corporation to drain out water at the earliest.
Town commissioner Vivek Ranjan Maitrey, city manager Om Prakash and sanitation incharge Kaushal Kishore were present at the meeting. Maitrey told the mayor incharge to engage motor pumps to drain out water from waterlogged localities. More than 34 motor pumps have been pressed into service to drain out water.
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