Flood havoc in Assam and Bihar; nearly 4 million affected

NEW DELHI: In eastern parts of the country floods continue to cause havoc. With nearly 4 million people affected in Assam and Bihar, there is still no respite from the devastating floods in the two states. The floods claimed life of three more people in Assam taking the death toll to 100 and at least 10 lost their lives in the deluge.

According to Bihar Disaster Management Department, nearly 15 lakh people have been affected by floods in 11 districts of Bihar with Darbhanga being the worst-affected district as 5.36 lakh people there have either been displaced or are trapped inside their homes. In Bishunpur Village of Darbhanga District, flood waters have invaded homes, forcing people to wade through the waist-deep water while trying to save their precious belongings.

Similarly, a significant amount of people have come out to live on the streets in the district village of Mabbi and from neighboring areas, as parts of their homes have been washed away. The flood has affected a total of 131 panchayats from 12 blocks of Darbhanga district. Over 2 lakh have been affected in Muzaffarpur district and 2.72 lakh have suffered in East Champaran. Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Supaul, Kishanganj, Gopalganj, Champaran west, Khagaria, and Saran are also affected as a result of the flood.

The rescue operations are conducted by seventeen NDRF and eight SDRF teams. The department said that so far about 1.36 lakhs have been evacuated from the marooned areas 14,011 people accommodated in 26 relief camps and in 463 community kitchens, approximately 1.77 lakh people were fed in the state. Across multiple flood-hit areas Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters have dropped food packets containing two-and-half kg of rice, one kg gram, 500 gm jaggery, a match box and packet of candles in each packet.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) daily flood bulletin, 23 districts are still suffering, affecting almost 25 lakh people, roughly 1.5 lakh less than Saturday, July 25, and nearly 46,000 people have taken shelter in 269 government relief camps. On Sunday, July 26, however, the overall water situation improved as water level of all major rivers started receding. However, heavy to very heavy rainfall has been forecasted by Central Water Commission (CWC) in Assam and Meghalaya from Tuesday, July 28.

Approximately 85% of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) have been flooded and there have been 129 animal casualties. P Sivakumar, Director, KNPTR, said the water level was receding in the park but at a very slow pace.