Bihar, presently, is dealing with two life-threatening problems at a time. The fear of COVID-19 along with floods has created a havoc in the state. The floods in Bihar has become an annual affair.
Heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of the Gandak river in Nepal has led to the discharge of excess water from the Valmikinagar barrage in West Champaran district, flooding parts of north Bihar.
Flood situation in Sitamarhi, Shivhar, Supaul, Kishanganj, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, East Champaran, West Champaran, Khagaria and Bhagalpur districts is alarming. Nearly seven lakh people have been hit by the collapse of more than a dozen small dams.
Gandak, Bagmati and Kosi areas are the worst affected. About 4.5 lakh cusecs of water has started to flow from Valmiki Nagar Barrage in Gopalganj. There have also been reports of leakage in the Saran Dam.
The administration has claimed that about 19,000 people have been brought to safer places. Given the coronavirus pandemic, the number of flood relief camps is being increased this year.
According to the flood victims, no help has been provided at the administrative level. However, 21 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in 12 districts in Bihar.
Meanwhile, with the rising water levels of Kosi and Ganga, the sufferings of the people in Diara areas has increased. The crops have started to sink in the lower reaches and led to the fodder crisis. The maize field cropped in 23,000 hectares is likely to be damaged in the Diara area of various blocks of Bhagalpur district, Navagachya, Nathnagar, Kahalgaon, Sabaur, Pirpanti, Sultanganj.
A survey is being conducted by the District Agriculture Department. According to the District agriculture official, Krishkant Jha, the water level of the Ganga has increased one and a half months ago. This is causing huge damage to crops in Diara areas. The concerned block agriculture officials have been instructed to survey the flood-sinking fields. Damage is being assessed so that farmers can receive compensation based on this report.
Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has asked the disaster management department officials and district magistrates to remain alert. The chief minister instructed the disaster management department officials and the district magistrates (DMs) concerned to ensure evacuation of people living in low lying areas of Gandak river discharge, to a higher and safer place.
All arrangements are ensured for them as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), he said, while making it clear that separate relief centers should be set up for people evacuated from any containment zone.