Patna, Aug 02: At least 40 people have died in the recent spell of floods in Bihar and the overall situation has further worsened with major rivers like Ganga, Bagmati, Kosi, Mahananda and Adhwara crossing the danger level at different points along their course. With reports of three deaths from Gopalganj and two from Sheohar due to floods, the death toll in the current spell has mounted to 40, state relief department sources said here. Three persons drowned while six others were reported missing when a boat capsized in a river near Vishwambharpur police station in Gopalganj, the sources said adding that local divers were engaged in locating the missing persons. In another incident, two persons were swept away by swift current of Bagmati which broke its right embankment in a stretch of 50 ft at Surgahi in Sheohar district.


Nearly 20 million people have been affected by floods in 16 districts of the state so far. The flood-affected districts include Sheohar, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, east and west Champaran, Saran, Siwan, Saharsa, Kishanganj, Khagaria, Supaul, Purnea, Katihar and Samastipur.

The floods have so far destroyed property worth Rs 20 crore, including private houses and standing crops.

According to sources at the central water commission, most of the major rivers were rising menacingly and have crossed the danger level at various points along their course.

Bagmati was flowing 48 cm above the red mark at Benibad, Kamla Balan was up by 58 cm at Jhanjhapur, while Adhwara group of rivers was flowing 48 cm above the danger level at Kamtaul. Kosi and Mahananda levels too were rising, the sources said.


Bureau Report