People move to a safer place on a boat in Gopalganj on Wednesday. Telegraph picture

Gopalganj, July 6: Two persons of Phulwaria village under Vishambharpur police station were swept away by floodwater last night.

The victims — Maya Devi (60) and her son Sanjay Kumar (12) — were walking in search of a safer place after their house was inundated. Suddenly floodwater of Gandak came on their path near Khem Matihania village. They lost balance because of heavy current of the water and were swept away.

The flood situation in the district worsened in the past 24 hours with the swelling Gandak river posing threat to the Patraha embankment, around 25km from the district headquarters. District magistrate Pankaj Kumar, chief engineer of flood control Ram Pukar Ranjan and superintendent engineer S.C. Jha are continuously monitoring the situation. The district magistrate today visited the Patraha village with the two other officers. After inspecting the embankment, Kumar ordered relief work.

He said: “The water-level has receded by two feet in the past two days and though the pressure of water at some places of the embankment persists there is no imminent danger.”

Kumar said: “Around 10 boats in Sadar block and six boats in Kuchaikot block have been pressed into service. Four teams of national disaster resource team have reached and have been pressed into rescue operations. The affected persons will be rescued and put in relief camps soon.”

He said: “The district administration has made sufficient arrangements for relief work and has stocked polythines and food in plenty.”

Sources, however, said no relief work had started yet. Some villagers have taken shelter on the embankments. No rescue operation had reached the flood-affected families till yesterday.

Erosion has been reported from Semaria near Pathanpatti under Manjha block and Matihania embankments, while residents of around 60 villages are facing the wrath of flood for the past six days.

Villagers of Baraipatti, Dhupsagar, Bhujli, Rajwahi, Niranjana, Nawada, Gamharias, Semra, Khargauli, Dharmpur, Rampur Tengrahi, Bhasahi under Gopalganj Sadar block, Durg Matihania, Khem Matihania, Kala Matihania, Gumania, Salehpur under Kuchaikot block and Manghi, Mugraha, Nimoia, Kerwanistola, Baluhi, Bhasahi under Manjha block have taken shelter on roofs of houses.

Most of the houses in these villages have been inundated. They are under knee-deep water. The foodgrain have been washed away.

Meanwhile, Dharti Drainage Infrastructure Company has been pulled up for its failure to complete the work of pilot channel in river Gandak within the stipulated time. The water resources department has sought explanation from the company and has taken initiative to lodge an FIR against the firm.