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Bihar govt seeks army help as flood situation deteriorates
Patna, Sept 11: The Bihar government today sought army help in view of the rapidly deteriorating flood situation as the state capital continued to be threatened by the swollen Ganga.
Patna, Sept 11: The Bihar government today sought army help in view of the rapidly deteriorating flood situation as the state capital continued to be threatened by the swollen
Ganga.
''The army's assistance has been sought for rescue and relief operations. The Chief Secretary has been asked to contact the army cantonment in Danapur'', sources in the Chief Minister's office told a news agency.
Meanwhile, the Ganga, which is in spate all along its course in the state, continued to pose a major threat to the state capital submerging a large number of villages in Danapur sub-division. Several low lying localities in the capital, including Pataliputra Colony and Digha were facing water logging due to backflow of drain water which cannot flow into the Ganga.
Relief department sources said so far 142 people had lost their lives in 19 flood-hit districts where a population of over 42 lakh had been reeling under the impact of the floods.
People in the riverine areas of Danapur and Sambalpur in Patna district were the worst affected with people taking shelter on embankments and roads. Although the district administration was battling to save the capital from floods, a large number of people along with their cattle from the riverine areas had taken shelter in the district collectorate.
Sources in the water resources department said the sudden rise in the water level of the Ganga was caused by the release of 5.7 lakh cusecs of water from the swollen Sone river yesterday.
The Ganga was flowing 1.31 metre above the danger mark at Kahalgaon, nine cm in Bhagalpur and three cm in Buxar, while the Sone was above the red level by 2.3 metres at Koilwar and 1.12 metre at maner. Other important rivers like Kosi, Ghaghra and Burhi Gandak were also flowing above the danger level at several places, Central Water Commission sources said. Meanwhile, sources in the relief department said standing crops in 3.25 lakh hectares had been damaged by the flood, while 15,986 houses were flattened. The authorities had pressed into service 3,166 boats for evacuating the marooned people and reaching relief to them. 218 relief centres, 393 health centres and 174 veterinary centres were working round the clock to alleviate the sufferings of the people.
The 19 flood-hit districts are: Patna, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Madhubani, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Araria, East Champaran, West Champaran, Supaul, Madhepura, Purnia, Katihar, Khagaria, Vaishali, Gopalganj and Bhagalpur.
Bureau Report
Meanwhile, the Ganga, which is in spate all along its course in the state, continued to pose a major threat to the state capital submerging a large number of villages in Danapur sub-division. Several low lying localities in the capital, including Pataliputra Colony and Digha were facing water logging due to backflow of drain water which cannot flow into the Ganga.
Relief department sources said so far 142 people had lost their lives in 19 flood-hit districts where a population of over 42 lakh had been reeling under the impact of the floods.
People in the riverine areas of Danapur and Sambalpur in Patna district were the worst affected with people taking shelter on embankments and roads. Although the district administration was battling to save the capital from floods, a large number of people along with their cattle from the riverine areas had taken shelter in the district collectorate.
Sources in the water resources department said the sudden rise in the water level of the Ganga was caused by the release of 5.7 lakh cusecs of water from the swollen Sone river yesterday.
The Ganga was flowing 1.31 metre above the danger mark at Kahalgaon, nine cm in Bhagalpur and three cm in Buxar, while the Sone was above the red level by 2.3 metres at Koilwar and 1.12 metre at maner. Other important rivers like Kosi, Ghaghra and Burhi Gandak were also flowing above the danger level at several places, Central Water Commission sources said. Meanwhile, sources in the relief department said standing crops in 3.25 lakh hectares had been damaged by the flood, while 15,986 houses were flattened. The authorities had pressed into service 3,166 boats for evacuating the marooned people and reaching relief to them. 218 relief centres, 393 health centres and 174 veterinary centres were working round the clock to alleviate the sufferings of the people.
The 19 flood-hit districts are: Patna, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Madhubani, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Araria, East Champaran, West Champaran, Supaul, Madhepura, Purnia, Katihar, Khagaria, Vaishali, Gopalganj and Bhagalpur.
Bureau Report