Patna: More than 40 lakh people in 514 panchayats across 84 blocks of 14 districts have been affected by floods in Bihar, according to the disaster management department (DMD). Though floodwaters have started receding along the Ganga and in the basins of other major rivers, relief and medical operations have been stepped up in affected areas.Bhagalpur remains among the worst-hit districts with more than 6.4 lakh people and nearly 1.5 lakh families affected. The number of flood-hit panchayats has risen from 82 to 92, while affected villages have increased from 269 to 376. A total of 710 Zila Parishad wards are affected.Bhagalpur DM Alankrita Pandey has been monitoring relief operations and visiting affected areas. So far, 23,412 people from 4,696 families have been evacuated to safer locations. The number of community kitchens (CKs) has increased from 91 to 183, providing food to 5,42,772 people in a single day, compared with 1,92,276 earlier. Another 35,277 people were provided food at special relief camps.In Shahkund, CO Harsha Komal rode a tractor to reach six flood-hit panchayats and distribute dry food packets and relief material. “In the Shahkund block of Bhagalpur, 30,000 people living in four fully affected panchayats and two partially hit others were facing a grim situation. They have been provided dry food packets and other relief materials, like polythene sheets,” Harsha Komal told reporters.A 24×7 permanent health camp and other medical camps staffed by doctors have been set up, while veterinary camps have increased from eight to 11. Around 8,910 polythene sheets have been distributed. Boat operations have also increased from 90 to 101, with route charts and contact details of boatmen, NDRF and SDRF personnel made available to the public.Police have also been deployed at Raghopur Middle School and other relief camps to maintain law and order. The administration has been directed to open additional CKs wherever required and is continuing rescue, relief and essential supply operations in vulnerable areas.In Shahkund, the Ganga level, which had reached 38.81 metres and crossed its 2021 high flood level of 36.75 metres, fell to 36.75 metres on Thursday. It remained 2.24 metres above the danger mark, the WRD said.The river is also receding from Buxar to Hathidah. At Buxar, its level fell 48 cm below the danger mark. The Central Water Commission forecast further decline from Patna to Kahalgaon.At Digha Ghat in Patna, the Ganga remained 67 cm above the danger mark and was expected to fall 19 cm by Friday morning. At Gandhi Ghat, it was 1.30 metres above the mark, with a further 13 cm fall expected.Discharge from Indrapuri barrage on the Sone fell to 90,408 cusecs and from Valmikinagar barrage on the Gandak to 88,000 cusecs. Kosi discharge at Birpur stood at 1.53 lakh cusecs.
