Bihar floods toll rises to 56

PATNA, JULY 17: More than 35 lakh people have been displaced by the floods that are wreaking havoc in north Bihar, even as the state's de...

PATNA, JULY 17: More than 35 lakh people have been displaced by the floods that are wreaking havoc in north Bihar, even as the state’s death toll rose to 56, with two more deaths being reported from the Darbhanga district today.Relief department sources said the swollen rivers had submerged vast areas in the districts of Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Sheohar, Muzaffarpur, Saharsa, Madhubani, Purnea, Madhepura, Khagaria and east Champaran.

Sources said flood waters had inundated 3.44 lakh hectares of land in 1913 villages in the affected districts. Over ten lakh heads of cattle have also been affected.

It has been estimated that crops worth Rs 2.31 crore have been washed away, while property worth Rs 3.54 crore destroyed. Almost 573 houses have been damaged by the swirling waters.

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Sources said 280 relief centres, 314 health centres and 113 veterinary centres were working in the flood affected areas.

Flood control cell sources said the Burhi Gandak river was eroding its right embankment nearPaharchak and the Kamla Balan river, its left embankment.The Bagmati river is now flowing above the danger mark at Benibad and Hayaghat by 58 cm and 192 cm, Central Water Commission sources said.The Burhi Gandak overtopped the red mark at Rosera by 20 cm while the Adhwara group of rivers was flowing above the danger mark at Kamtaul and Ekmighat by 58 cm and 138 cm respectively. The Kosi has crossed the danger mark at Baltara by 125 cm, sources added.

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