Bihar reels under flood onslaught

PATNA, JULY 31: There was no let-up in the overall flood situation in Bihar with major rivers like Ganga, Kosi, Bagmati, Kamla Balan and ...

PATNA, JULY 31: There was no let-up in the overall flood situation in Bihar with major rivers like Ganga, Kosi, Bagmati, Kamla Balan and Burhi Gandak in spate even as relief measures were further stepped up following the directive of Governor Justice B M Lal.

Lal, who undertook an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas in North Bihar districts on Friday, expressed strong displeasure over the scanty’ relief operations and asked the district authorities to take all possible steps to meet the needs of the affected people.

A Raj Bhavan spokesman told newsmen that while undertaking survey of Darbhanga and Sitamarhi districts, worst-hit by floods, Lal directed the officials to arrange adequate number of boats to provide relief to the marooned people.

Story continues below this ad

Terming the situation as grave’, the Governor said effective steps were required to be taken to provide succour to the flood-hit population.State water resource department sources said the Ganga was expected to cross the danger level by over 10 cm today atGandhighat. If the river maintained the rising trend, it would overtop the red point by Sunday morning at Hatidah threatening to submerge vast countryside areas in Patna and Vaishali districts.

Fresh low lying areas in Patna were submerged by the waters of Punpun and Ganga.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Rabri Devi held a high-level meeting with her Cabinet colleagues and top state officials to take stock of the latest flood situation in Bihar. Rabri Devi directed the officials to further intensify the relief operations.