Darbhanga, Oct. 7: The district administration has started to distribute relief material in flood-hit villages, as the water started to recede.

Incessant rain in Darbhanga and neighbouring districts — Madhubani, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi — over the past week had caused breaches in the embankment of river Khiroi. Six blocks of Darbhanga — Keoti, Jalley, Singhwara, Darbhanga Sadar, Bahadurpur and Hanuman Nagar — were inundated. Shubhankarpur, Wajitpur and Ratnopatti under the Darbhanga Municipal Corporation were also affected.

A source in the district administration said around 23 people in the district had died because of floods this year. Eight of these were reported from the flood-hit blocks last week.

The source added that cases of diarrhoea have also been reported from these districts.

District magistrate R. Lakshumanan told The Telegraph: “Relief fund and free foodgrain have been distributed to 3,000 families of flood-hit blocks. Polythene sheets were also distributed among 9,000 families who lost their homes in the flood so that they could construct temporary shelters.”

Lakshumanan also said: “Mobile medical teams have been formed. They will visit the area from which cases of diarrhoea are being reported. Around 15 to 20 cases of diarrhoea are being reported every day. The medical teams are trying to provide treatment to everyone.”

The DM added that as far as road communication is concerned, 42 roads have been damaged.

The state road construction department has been directed to repair them as soon as possible.

Sources said the initial survey conducted after the flood revealed that crops spread over 25,000 hectares have been damaged. The district administration has started to give compensation to farmers who suffered losses.