Bihar flood situation improving

The Chief Minister who undertook an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas today said a flood-like situation arose because of heavy rains in the state and in Nepal, "But the flood waters have started receding and the situation now is fully within control".

The damages caused by the floods must be assessed and a timely report should reach here for compensation, he said after reviewing the floods caused by Ganga, Sone, Kamalabalan, Punpun and Adhwara group of rivers.

He also asked the repective district magistrates of the flood-hit districts to ensure that the government relief (GR) reached every affected family on time. Steps must continue on a war-footing to evacuate the marooned people to safer places, the chief minister said.

Kumar directed the state water resources and disaster management departments to intensify relief and rescue operations. "The state government is ready to reach all-possible help to the flood-affected people", he said after concluding his aerial survey at Patna airport.

Central Water Commission sources said the water level of Ganga was receding though the river was still flowing above the danger mark at some points. The river was flowing 33 cm above the danger mark at Gandhi Ghat (Patna) and 61 cm at Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur.

River Sone was flowing 60 cm above the danger mark at Maner in Patna, while Punpun was flowing 270 cm above the red mark at Sripalpur, official sources said.
The Burhi Gandak was flowing 68 cm above the danger mark at Khagaria and Bagmati, Kamala Balan, Kosi and Mahananda were all flowing above the danger marks but showing receding trend due to scanty rains in past 24 hours.

Following discharge of 9.50 lakh cusecs of water from Bansagar dam in Madhya Pradesh and Rihand dam in Uttar Pradesh into river Sone, several villages of five districts were inundated, the sources said. The districts were Rohtas, Arwal, Patna, Aurangabad and Bhojpur as the river continued to rise along its course.