The flood situation worsened on Wednesday with 17 deaths reported across the state.

Purnea, Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar, Darbhanga, Madhepura, Bhagalpur and Supaul have been hit the hardest. Around 17.25 lakh people have been affected and 4 lakh displaced from their villages.

"The situation is critical in Purnea, Araria, Kishanganj and Katihar districts because of heavy rainfall in Nepal," principal secretary, disaster management, Vyasji said. "There are no embankments along the Mahananda, Parman and Bakhra rivers and the water is spreading all over. Purnea is the worst affected."

Chief minister Nitish Kumar will conduct an aerial survey of the affected areas on Thursday.

The saving grace has been that alarm for expected discharge of 5 to 6 lakh cusec (cubic foot per second) water from the Valmikinagar barrage over the Gandak in West Champaran district has fizzled out, reducing the threat to West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan and Saran districts.