Naugachia: A sizeable population in Naugachia sub-division of Bhagalpur, around 236km east of Patna, has been affected by the rising waters of the Ganga and the Kosi.

Baikethpur Dudhela village under Narayanpur block is the worst-hit with the Government Middle School-II building and the houses of ward members Subodh Mandal, Janglee Mandal, Damodar Mandal, Lakshman Mandal and Dabloo Mandal swept away by the Ganga in the past 24 hours.

Another 50 houses in the village are under direct threat of erosion as the Ganga has started engulfing huge tracts of land.

Similarly, the Kosi has wreaked havoc at Lokmanpur village under Khrik block in Naugachia, where the river eroded over more than 400m of cultivated lands, including the house of one Bodhi Mandal. Kaluchak, Bhawanpura and Mandrouni villages are also facing land erosion.

At Nagarpara village in Bihpur block, the Kosi diverted from its main stream into its old route after nearly 20 years. The river is rapidly eroding land at Nagarpara.

Arvind Mandal, the mukhiya (village head) of Baikethpur Dudhela panchayat, said despite informing local administrative officials , no step has been taken by the water resources department for anti-erosion works.

"Most have taken shelter on higher grounds located some distance from the river and left their houses at the mercy of the Kosi," he said.

Many villagers complained that due to the indifferent attitude of the water resource department, the village last year lost a lot of land, and two buildings of the government primary school, and 165 houses to the rage of the Kosi.

Sub-divisional officer (SDO), Naugachia, Mukesh Kumar was not available for comment.

However, sources in his office insisted that the flood-fighting wing of the water resource department has been trying its best.

"But due to the swift current of the rivers it is very difficult for them to control land erosion," the source said.

Anil Kumar, executive engineer, water resource department, said with geo bags (bags filled with sand) and fencing at the river banks, erosion has been countered to some extent. "At Nagarpara we managed to control erosion by dumping geo bags on the riverbank," he said.