A woman walks through a flooded field at a village in Supaul. Picture by Amit Kumar

Bhagalpur, June 30: Tall claims of flood prevention of the state water resources department have fallen flat after heavy water discharge from Kosi barrage in the past 48 hours inundated 24 hamlets of Supaul district.

The rise in the water-level of Kosi, known as the sorrow of Bihar, has posed a threat to the districts like Saharsa, Madhepura, Khagaria and parts of Naugachia sub-division of Bhagalpur. Sources in the state water resources department said the river has crossed the danger mark in these areas.

According to Chandan Kumar, assistant engineer, flood control circle, Khagaria, the river crossed the danger point (47.75m) at Basua in the district. “Continuous rain, both in Nepal and other parts of Kosi region, might raise the water-level further in the next 24 hours,” a source in the water resources department said.

Weather experts feared that the flood situation in Kosi region could worsen as moderate to heavy rain might inundate the catchment areas of the river in the next 48 hours.

According to sources in the flood control cell in Supaul, more than 1,50,000 cusec water was discharged from the Kosi barrage in the past 48 hours. Sluice gates — number 40 to 54 of the barrage — have been opened mainly because of the rising water pressure.

After the discharge of 1,50,000 cusec water from the barrage, more than 24 hamlets under Saraigar-Bhaptiyahi and Kisunpur blocks falling under Supaul have been inundated. The water-level of the river at some places is over 3ft.

Floodwater has entered the villages under six panchayats, including Parsamdho, Naubakhar Bouraha, Moujaha, Dubeyahi and Sivpuri, under Kisunpur block in the district. Over 12 houses at Naubakhar have been completely ravaged by the Kosi as a result of massive land erosion.

People from the affected areas like Kalyanpur west and Garia have taken shelter in the eastern parts of the Kosi embankment.

Many villagers alleged that despite previous warnings, the district administration had not arranged boats for relief and rescue operations in the flood-prone parts of Supaul.

“In the absence of boats I had to swim across the flood water with my family to save our lives,” Bisun Risidev, a native of Naubakhar village, said.

Nabin Chandra Prasad, the circle officer of Kalyanpur, assured of making available boats soon for rescue operations. He claimed that the officials concerned in the district have started monitoring the situation closely.

According to sources in the state’s disaster management department, more than 143 villages falling under 43 panchayats in Supaul, located on the catchments areas, have been marked as super-sensitive.

“The department has sounded the alarm bell for the district but proper measures to counter the flood has not been completed yet,” said a source.

Sources in Supaul district administration said it presently has only two motorboats and not a single government boat. “Some motor boats, which were scheduled to reach here from Munger, have not yet arrived. The district magistrate has ordered 40 boats,” sources said.