People move to higher ground during the 2008 Kosi flood. Telegraph picture

Bhagalpur, Aug. 10: In the past 48 hours, villagers in Supaul and Saharsa districts had to face flood-like situations despite no rise in the water level of Kosi.

The villages, mostly located in the lowlands and near the catchment areas of Kosi, were completely inundated because of heavy downpour and underground seepage from the river’s embankments.

Reports from Saharsa said the river, which has witnessed a rise in its water level from August 6, is now posing a serious threat to those hamlets, which are located inside the river embankments.

Dozens of villages like Kedli, Asahi, Rampur, Chatban and Paharpur falling under Nawhatta block are under water. Chandan Kumar, the officer-in-charge of Nawhatta police station, said: “Pholo Devi, a villager, drowned in a Kosi tributary near Asahi on August 9. The victim, along with some other villagers, was trying to cross the river stream.”

Reports from Supaul said more than 45,000 people residing in more than 85 villages spread over five blocks in the district have been largely affected by the swelled up Kosi over the past three days. “The situation of the inundated villages under Nirmally, Sapaul, Morana, Saraighar-Bhaptiyahi, Kishanpur blocks in the district were serious, as the villages lost all road communication and have transformed into small islands,” said a source in the office of the district magistrate of Supaul.

Supaul district magistrate Kumar Ravi said despite full preparation to counter the flood, the threat of erosion caused by the currents of Kosi is creating havoc in many places in the district.

“We are prepared to counter any adverse situation. Around 161 boats were kept ready for relief and rescue operations. Besides we have started relief and rescue operations in the flood-affected villages,” Ravi said.

Bijay, a social worker in Supaul, said: “The situation is grim. Many villages have been cut off from other parts of the district. People here have to risk their lives to meet their daily needs. In most of the villages, boats are the only option to venture out.”

“People were disappointed yesterday after chief minister Nitish Kumar’s visit here was cancelled. We have high hopes from the chief minister for a solution to our problems,” said Bipin Kumar, a resident of Birpur in Supaul. Nitish who was scheduled to make an aerial survey of the flood-prone Kosi region on August 9 could not reach Birpur because of the adverse weather conditions.