26 die in Bihar floods, UP struggling

Flooding in Bihar claimed 26 more lives today, though the situation in delugebattered Assam and West Bengal inched closer to normal with water receding in most of the affected parts of the two states.

Officials said the flood toll mounted to 367 in Bihar, where 1.58 crore people are affected in 19 districts.

There was no let up in the situation in Uttar Pradesh as the swirling waters of the rivers emanating from Nepal wreaked havoc in vast swathes of human habitation, officials said.

The death toll in the UP floods stands at 82. As many as 2,855 villages in 24 districts are inundated and more than 22 lakh people affected. Nearly 50,000 people have taken shelter in relief camps. Army choppers, and NDRF and PAC personnel continued relief and rescue operations in the severely-hit areas.

The release of water into the rivers emanating from Nepal and incessant rains impeded rescue work and evacuation of people to safer areas, the office said. Many rivers were flowing above the danger level mark at several places, according to the Central Water Commission.

The situation in Assam improved considerably, although Morigaon reported one more flood-related death. Nearly seven lakh people are grappling with the flooding across 11 districts.

The third wave of the devastating floods has so far claimed 71 lives across Assam. The toll this year in flood- related incidents in the northeastern state has gone up to 155.