PATNA: While around 30 lakh people have been affected by floods in the state, thunderstorm and lightning claimed two lives in West Champaran district on Thursday. With this, the number of the flood and lightning-related deaths in the state has increased to 46.
One Gangu Ojha, priest of the Shiva temple in the Bankatwa locality of Bagaha, died on the temple premises in lightning strike. The second victim was identified as Ajay Das who died after lightning struck him in a sugar cane field at Pipara village under the Chanpatia police station area. His younger brother was injured and rushed to Bettiah Medical College and Hospital.
Meanwhile, as a result of moderate to heavy rain in the catchment areas of north Bihar rivers in Nepal and Bihar in the last 24 hours, the water levels of all the rivers showed rising trend on Thursday. In the last 24 hours, the real-time rainfall received at Pokhara in Nepal in the catchment area of the Gandak was 221.4ml.
Against 2.06 lakh cusecs of water discharge through Valmikinagar barrage across the Gandak on Wednesday, the volume fell to 1.75 lakh cusecs on Thursday morning, but increased to 1.83 lakh cusecs in the afternoon. The river was flowing 1.46m above the danger level at Dumaria Ghat and 89cm at Rewa Ghat, while the level was 81cm below the danger level at Hajipur.
Similarly, the water discharge through Birpur barrage across the Kosi increased to 1.68 lakh cusecs in the morning to 1.85 lakh cusecs in the afternoon. It was flowing 1.92m above the danger level at Baltara (Khagaria) and 82cm at Kursela in Katihar district.
Although the water level of the Bagmati was falling at most places, it was flowing 1.23m above the danger level at Benibad and 1.46m at Hayaghat. Similarly, the water level of the Burhi Gandak was 1.50m above the red mark at Rosera and 1m at Khagaria. On the other hand, the Kamla was flowing 40cm above the danger level at Jainagar and 1.85m at Jhanjharpur.
There was no let-up in the flood fury in East Champaran district. Around 100 villages of eight blocks continued to reel from the impact of the fifth round of flood. The floodwaters of the Gandak spread to more areas on Thursday.
The floodwaters entered 400 houses in Chatiya panchayat of Areraj block. More than 1,000 families have shifted to the embankment of the Gandak and other safer places with their essential belongings and cattle. Pawan Kumar, circle officer of Areraj, said three community kitchens have been set up in Nawada and Sareya panchayats.
This year, Sugauli, Banjariya, Adapur, Patahi, Madhuban, Sangrampur, Kesariya and Areraj blocks of East Champaran district are the worst affected. Paddy crops have been destroyed completely in these areas.
(With inputs from Tirthraj Kushawaha and Chandra Bhushan Pandey)
