Patna, July 14 (pti) The overall flood situation in Bihar remained grim today with swollen rivers wreaking havoc in the vast country-side following incessant rains in their catchment areas.
Fresh villages were inundated as rain-fed Bagmati, Mahananda and Adhwara group of rivers submerged vast areas in Madhubani, Sitamarhi and Darbhanga districts, official sources said. The situation was worse in Madhubani district where rivers were putting heavy pressure on embankments as breaches occurred along Maharaji embankment at several places, they said. Around 1.5 million people continued to reel under the impact of flood which claimed 21 lives so far. The affected districts were Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sheohar, Muzaffarpur, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj, Supaul, Saharsa, Kishanganj, east and west Champaran. A central water commission report said Burhi Gandak was flowing 32 cm, 162 cm and 90 cm above the danger mark at Sikandarpur, Rosera And Samastipur respectively, while Bagmati crossed the red mark by 58 cm at Benibad. The Adhwara group of rivers overtopped the red level by 53 cm and 34 cm at Kamtaul and Ekmighat respectively, the report stated.

Kosi was flowing 88 cm above danger mark at Baltara.

Met office sources said heavy rains were expected in the catchment areas of rivers originating from Nepal.

Bureau Report.