Bihar – sometimes known as India’s “flood state” – has endured weeks of floods as a result of heavy monsoon rainfall. So far this year, 171 people have died as a result of the floods. Reports claim a massive 5.4 million people in 20 different districts of the state have been affected.
Nearly 50,000 people are currently living in the 89 relief camps set up by the authorities. There are some reports that many of those at risk are reluctant to leave their homes. The worst affected areas are Kaimur, Saran, Begusarai, Ara, Buxar, Vaishali, and Bhagalpur districts. Further personnel from India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been sent to help with the flood situation in the state.
Of some concern has been the release of water from the Bansagar dam in the nearby state of Madhya Pradesh, the into Sone river. Further heavy rainfall is expected in Bihar, especially the northern areas, from 8th September.
Ganges Levels
Levels of the Ganges were standing at above the danger mark in several places. At Bhagalpur the river levels were 34.47 metres. At Gandhi Ghat, Patna (one of the areas protected by embankments) it stood at 49.90 metres and at Digha Ghat levels were 50.89 metres. These are the highest levels since Patna’s new embankments were built (1975 – 1976) and a major test for the city’s flood defences.
Patna
There has also been some concern for the state capital, Patna. The city suffered terrible flooding in 1975, but has since developed better flood defences, especially embankments and retention walls along the banks of the Ganges.
The authorities believe these flood defences – some of which have been reinforced with sandbags – will hold back rising river levels, although there have been reports that parts of the low-lying areas of the city have seen some flooding.
According to Telegraph India:
Streets in Kankerbagh, Lohanipur and Patliputra were under three to four feet of water on Tuesday morning…In the central and western parts of the city, most roads were waterlogged. Commuters and school students had a tough time wading through the mud and slush….Water gushed into several houses in the northern and eastern parts of Patna.
Patna has seen record levels of rainfall for September, with 15cm falling in 24 hours over 2nd and 3rd September. The heavy rain is now receding, but further heavy rainfall is expected to return in about 1 week’s time.
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Sources: Telegraph India; Times of India
