The overall flood situation continued to remain grim in Bihar as Nepal on Thursday released 100,400 cusec of water in the Kosi.

According to an official report of the disaster management department, the toll in the flood fury touched 126 in the state.

Meanwhile, an official report from Saharsa said the water level, which was receding in the flood-affected areas of the Kosi division, had begun surging again. This came about, following release of water in the Kosi from Nepal.

Communication, specially road links, were badly hit in the division while plying of trains resumed partially in some parts.

A report from Khagaria said the flood water of the turbulent Bagmati, Budhi Gandak and Kareh entered Khagaria and many areas were inundated, following breach in the Kareh near Patsa village.

The culvert of an embankment collapsed due to water pressure. The flood water entered the sub-divisional office, Sadar hospital, collectorate, civil court, district and sessions judge court, block office, SBI office, power grid substation, jail premises and many schools of the town.

The power supply from Khagaria grid and sub-station has been suspended in the district headquarters.

The jail administration evacuated over 700 prisoners, who were being shifted to the jails in Bhagalpur and Begusarai. The functioning of Sadar hospital has been temporarily shifted at the building of a local high school.

The report from Samastipur said there was no let-up in the flood situation even after the Bagmati and Kareh rivers were maintaining a receding trend in the district.

About 15 lakh people were still marooned and several government offices, court campus, Doordarshan relay centre and subdivisional jail campus remain inundated. About 250 prisoners were shifted to the first floor of the jail building.

The road and rail communication remained totally snapped in the district, which was facing heavy revenue loss of Rs 30 lakh everyday due to the flood.

Air force helicopters were airdropping relief material in the flood-affected areas of the state.

According to Central Water Commission sources, majority of the rivers were flowing above the danger level at several places.

The disaster management department informed that about one crore 38 lakh people of 164 blocks in about 5000 villages had been affected by the flood. Eight hundred and twenty relief camps have been set up in the affected areas.

US FLOOD RELIEF

New Delhi, DHNS: The United States has contributed 50,000 Dollars (Rs 2,000,000) to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for providing relief to the victims of the recent floods in India, the US embassy here announced on Thursday.
US Ambassador to India David C Mulford, while making the announcement, in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, said his country was ready to provide additional support.

He expressed condolences to the families of victims of the floods. The funds have been made available through the US Ambassador’s Humanitarian Relief Fund.