Patna, July 25: Forty-eight people have lost their lives so far in flood in Bihar as the overall situation worsened today, forcing the authorities to seek increased help of the army in carrying out relief and rescue operations with major rivers like the Gandak, Kamala Balan, Bagmati and Kosi wreaking havoc following heavy rain in their upper reaches in Nepal. With reports of 28 fresh deaths during the past couple of days following an alarming rise in the water level of rivers, the toll rose to 48, official sources told a news agency here. The state relief and rehabilitation department minister, ramvichar rai, told the state assembly that 15 people were feared drowned in a boat mishap in the flood-hit Madhubani district yesterday.
Later, talking to reporters, Rai said nearly 41 lakh people, spread over 5,027 villages under 335 panchayats in 14 districts were so far affected by floods.
Army personnel with three helicopters and several motorised boats were pressed into service in the worst-hit darbhanga, sheohar, sitamarhi and madhubani districts to step up relief and rescue operation.

Besides, a column of armymen with eight to nine motorised boats were expected to report to the state headquarters here today who would be engaged in other affected areas, rai said.

Bureau Report