Anil Kumar Sinha addresses the news conference in Patna on Thursday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) will observe Flood Safety Week from June 1 to 7 with a special focus on the flood vulnerability of the state.

BSDMA vice-chairman Anil Kumar Sinha said: “The geographical and topographical location of the state makes it prone to moderate and severe floods. Of the 38 districts in Bihar, 15 are severely affected and 13 are moderately and rest are mildly affected. It is the most flood-prone state in the country, accounting for 16.5 per cent of flood-prone area and 22.1 per cent of the flood-affected population.”

At the state-level, two workshops, “Flood Preparedness and Resource Mapping” and “Flood Risk Management: Flood forecasting/ Monitoring and Mitigation” have been planned.

Sinha added: “This would be a part of the district- and state-level public awareness strategy for flood, which would include activities at school-, college-, police station- and community-level. At the district-level, District Disaster Management Authority would conduct awareness campaigns, debates, essay and slogan writing, poster-making contests and mock drills in schools.”