The warning by IMD means that heavy downpour is likely to continue in the state and add woes to residents who are battling with floods caused due to a large-scale inundation from September 27. According to reports, the Centre has dispatched 20 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and pressed into service Indian Air Force helicopters to help flood-hit people in Bihar.
Water-logging has also led to the inundation of many power sub-stations forcing people to live without electricity for the past few days. Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Modi and his family were rescued on Monday, three days after being stuck at their home in Patna due to widespread flooding.
42 Killed And Lakhs Injured
According to state disaster management department, at least 42 people have lost their lives till Wednesday from areas which are severely hit by a torrential spell of downpour. Official statement also revealed that the total number of people affected by the devastating rainfall were around 17.09 lakh.
The districts hit by heavy downpour and floods include Patna, Bhojpur, Bhagalpur, Khagaria, Samastipur, Begusarai, Lakhisarai and Vaishali situated on either side of the Ganga. Apart from these, Arwal, Nawada, Nalanda, parts of Darbhanga, Katihar were also affected by the rains.
Rescue Operations And Relief Work By Central And State Government
The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) headed by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Tuesday reviewed the flood situation in Bihar, where 16 districts have been affected by the deluge. Twenty teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), comprising about 900 rescue persons, have been deployed in the state. According to an official statement by a home ministry official to news agency PTI, six of the teams were deployed in capital Patna, which has witnessed very heavy rains and water logging over the past three days.
Two helicopters of the Indian Air Force were also deployed in rescue and relief operations. The Bihar government has informed the NCMC that due to extremely heavy rainfall in the state, along with high levels of water in the rivers, there has been flooding in 16 districts.
Extensive evacuation, rescue and relief efforts have been undertaken by the state government machinery, in which all assistance has been rendered by the NDRF and other central agencies, the official said. Four heavy duty pumps, made available by the Ministry of Coal were sent to Patna and the pumps would be used to drain out about 3,000 gallons of water per minute from water logged areas.
Essential supplies of food and drinking water are being supplied by the state government and efforts are on for restoration of electricity in flood affected areas. The IMD has stated that while there has been very heavy rainfall in Bihar over the past few days, the situation is improving now.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi On Bihar Floods:
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar On Bihar Floods:
RJD Leader Tejashwi Yadav On Bihar Floods:
Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi On Bihar Floods:
BJP Leader Ravi Shankar Prasad On Bihar Floods:
According to reports, PM Modi has assured Nitish of "all possible help" by the Centre to tackle the flood situation, in a telephonic conversation on Monday. According to PTI, people in several areas stood on the terraces or roofs of their houses, trying to catch packets that were dropped by the helicopter or hurled at them from boats ferried by the NDRF and the SDRF.
Besides Patna, districts like Hazipur, Bhagalpur, Saran, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, and Vaishali have also been badly affected. On Sunday, three people were killed after a wall collapsed in Bhagalpur district. News agency ANI reported that five teams of the NDRF are operational in Patna, two are deployed in Bhagalpur and one team each in Buxar, Munger, Begusarai, Gopalganj, Kishanganj, Katihar, Khagaria, Madhubani, Supaul, Vaishali, Araria, and Darbhanga.
(With inputs from agencies)