Bihar and UP get a breather from flood, train services still paralysed in Bhagalpur

Patna/Lucknow:The flood situation improved in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh as water level in major rivers like Ganga continued to fall. Bihar’s Principal Secretary of Disaster Management Department Vyasji said "Flood waters are receding in the Ganga and its tributaries and the situation is improving." Even as the flood situation eased considerably, train services on Barauni-Katihar section of East Central Railway was paralysed after the Ganga breached its embankment in Katihar district.

Train services on the section were stopped after swirling water of the Ganga damaged tracks at two places-near Naugachhia and Kataria in adjoining Bhagalpur district. Several long distance trains, including Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express have been diverted following disruption of train services on both up and down lines in the section. More than 34 lakh people from 2,037 villages in 12 districts have been hit by the floods he said,adding that nearly five Lakh people have been evacuated, out of which 2.66 Lakh have taken shelter in relief camps set up by the state government. The current wave of floods in the state has so far claimed 55 lives.

District Magistrates have been asked to be fully alert and remain prepared to face any worsening of the situation in the coming days. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made an aerial survey of flood-affected Bhagalpur district and reviewed the situation with officials. RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Prasad Yadav conducted aerial survey of flood-hit Bhojpur and Buxar districts today. Protests broke out in several places in the state due to alleged poor flood relief measures. Such protests were held in Patna, Bhagalpur, Saran, Bhojpur, Samastipur, Khagaria and Munger districts.

A mob of flood victims held Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha hostage for nearly two hours to express their anguish at the “callous” attitude of the state government in providing relief to them. Mr Kushwaha was mobbed by flood victims in Hasanpura village in a Mahnar police station area of Vaishali district. They complained of poor quality relief material. The Union Minister was allowed to go after elders among the flood victims intervened. (UNI)