Bhagalpur: Floodwaters inundated Ismailpur block of Bhagalpur on Friday.
With the Ganga and Kosi rivers flowing above the danger mark at Kahalgaon and moderate to heavy rains lashing catchment areas in the last 24 hours, the flood threat looms large over Bhagalpur and adjourning areas.
Bhagalpur divisional commissioner Rajesh Kumar on Friday asked his subordinates to speed up relief and rescue work. He asked for initiation of rescue operation at Rani diara in Pirpainty where a sizable population was trapped.
Floodwaters entered many low-lying areas of Bhagalpur, as the Ganga was reportedly flowing 7m above the danger mark at Kahalgaon and the water level continued to rise.
Catchment areas in Narayanpur, Ismailpur, Gopalpur, Sahapur, Kahalgaon, Pirpainty and other areas of Sabour block are already inundated. People living in diaras and low-lying areas have already started shifting to safer places with their cattle heads and essential belongings but inadequate boats and lack of other basic facilities are a major hurdle.
The Ganga and Kosi rivers are reportedly flowing above the danger mark at several places in Naugachia sub-division. "However, the situation is not alarming so far," said an official of the water resources department (WRD). "Floodwaters have entered Ismailpur block and the road link to Ismailpur has been snapped owing to rising water levels."
He said massive land erosion has been reported from Bind Toli at Gopalpur where more than two dozens houses disappeared into the river bed in the last 72 hours. According to him, the river level has the tendency to rise by 1cm every 3 hours.
Floodwaters are flowing just 45cm below the danger mark in Bhagalpur's Barari ghat but it has created panic among residents of Babupur, Rajandipur, Ghoshpur, Farakka, English, Mamalkha, Chaychak and Ramnagar diaras (all in Sabour block). People living in BagderBagicha under Sabour block are setting up makeshift homes atop mango trees in the orchards, as flood waters entered the orchard. Over 30,000 people in the block have been hit by flood waters, said a report from Sabour block.
Prakesh Mandal, a resident of Baikatpur in Narayanpur block under Naugachia sub-division, alleged that floods inundated over 30 houses in the village but no relief and rescue operation has started yet. "We have to face immense problems, children are falling ill and there are no boats for our movement here," said village mukhiya Arvind Mandal.
Sultanganj block development officer (BDO) Prabhat Ranjan visited several flood-affected villages like Ganganiya, Kamarganj, Madsi, Abjuganj and Tilakpur among others. He said reports of the affected areas were sent to the district headquarters.
Mitu Kumari, the mukhiya of Babu tola in Kamalkundra panchayat, distributed flattened rice ( chura) and jaggery among flood victims.
