Nearly 2 million affected by floods in Bihar

PATNA: The flood situation in Bihar worsened on Monday, with many rivers breaching their banks and embankments and affecting nearly two million people, officials said.

The government has launched massive relief and rescue operations with help from the Army, Air Force as well as National Disaster Response Force and Bihar State Disaster Response Force teams in the 14 floodhit districts.

“We are evacuating people to safer places. It is our priority for now because thousands are stranded,” said Pratyaya Amrit, Principal Secretary in the Bihar Disaster Management Department.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, after an aerial survey of the flooded districts, said he had told officials to speed up rescue and relief work.

“It is like a flash flood situation after heavy rains in the last three days. Relief and rescue operations are going on in full swing,” he said.

Nitish Kumar said he had asked the district magistrates of the worsthit districts to conduct aerial survey and work on a strategy to reach out to the affected people. “It will take time for the flood waters to recede from villages.”

According to the Bihar Disaster Management Department, nearly two million people have been affected by the floods, including thousands who have been forced to flee their homes.

In the last two days, nearly one million people have been displaced in Kishanganj, Araria, Purnea and Katihar districts.

“Thousands were displaced as their villages got inundated,” a Kishanganj district official said.