Patna, July 24: There was no let-up in the flood situation in north Bihar today as several rivers continued to flow above the danger mark.
A Central Water Commission (CWC) bulletin said the Bagmati river was flowing 0.4m above the danger mark in Sitamarhi district. Similarly, the Kamla-Balan is flowing 1.65m above the danger level at Jhanjharpur in Madhubani district, whereas the Mahananda was flowing about a metre higher than the danger mark at places in Katihar and Purnea districts.
However, the water resources department official said there was relief today as far as discharge of water was concerned. Compared to yesterday, when the water discharge from Valmikinagar barrage, which crossed 3 lakh cusec (cubic foot per second) following continuous heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of the river Gandak in Nepal, the discharge was less - 2.34 lakh cusec - today.
"Though the flood situation is not alarming, we are keeping our field officials on the toe to keep things under control," said Indu Bhushan Kumar, engineer-in-chief, headquarters, water resources department.
He also said a request had been sent to the Nepal government for strengthening security cover at Birpur barrage on the river Kosi after criminals had threatened to blow up the barrage.
In Muzaffarpur, flood-hit people were seen shifting towards safer places in Katra block of the district.
Floodwaters have affected lives in villages like Madhopur, Pahsol and Barri among 30 others in the district. Many residents of Katra, Gaighat and Aurai blocks, in particular, are feeling the flood fury.
The floodwaters of the Bagmati has spread to newer areas of Gaighat block, inundating several villages. Residents of Kodai, Sabash, Bhatgama, Harkholi and Gorihari and Dumrama have moved to the Muzaffarpur-Darbhanga stretch of NH-57.
Nishikant, circle officer of Gaighat block, said he had inspected sites of erosion in Dumrama village this morning and requested the engineers of the water resources department to plug the holes on a war footing.
District magistrate Dharmendra Kumar said special arrangements had been made for safe delivery of children and if required, expecting women would also be brought to Muzaffarpur town for safe delivery. Special disaster management secretary Anirudh Kumar said: "Rescue and relief work are going on in all the districts hit by floods."
The floods have hit train movement. Soon after reports of erosion near Saharsa-Mansi rail station, a team of railway experts and engineers rushed to the spot and started work in the presence of Samastipur divisional railway manager Sudhanshu Sharma.
Additional reporting by Khwaja Jamal in Muzaffarpur
