Bihar: Flood situation remains grim; locals in Muzaffarpur displaced

Muzaffarpur (Bihar) [India], October 4 : Faced with severe flood-related issues locals in Muzaffarpur have been forced to move out of their waterlogged homes.

People were seen relocating to safer places due to flooding caused by heavy water discharge from Kosi Barrage in Birpur triggered by relentless rainfall in the catchment areas of Nepal. Water levels in some rivers flowed at or above danger levels in many bordering districts.

The Congress State Office distributed relief material to the flood-affected areas.

Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh urged the government to be 'proactive' and come forward to help the flood victims.
"We urge the government to be 'pro-active' and come forward to help the flood victims. Here is a double-engine government, citing which votes are taken from the public, but what has happened now?" he said.
Speaking on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inspecting flood-affected areas, he said, "What is a chief minister for?... This is the duty of the chief minister, which he cannot escape... If he (Nitish Kumar) does not work even during a calamity, then what is he the chief minister for?"
The chief minister inspected the flood-affected areas and checked on the relief work being carried out in the state, as per a statement from the Chief Minister's office.
A massive volume of water was released from the Kosi and Gandak barrages, affecting northern Bihar and Nepal. Floods in Sitamarhi followed a breach in the Mandar dam in the Belsand block on September 29.
Rivers like Bagmati, Kamla Balan, and Adhwara Group are in spate, several villages have been submerged.
On October 3, several residents were forced to move out of their waterlogged homes due to the excessive flooding in the Aurai block of Muzaffarpur.
Several residents have erected tarpaulin sheets to create makeshift tents along the roadside in as temporary refuge.
Muzaffarpur District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen said, "The water level has risen due to the increase in the Bagmati River's water level and breaches in dams at several locations in Sitamarhi and Sheohar districts. We are continuously monitoring this."
To support the flood affected people, community kitchens have been established in the most impacted areas.
"Community kitchens have been set up, especially in the two most-affected districts...They have also been set up wherever people have made a demand. People have asked for community kitchens near their houses, so that they need not commute," the District Magistrate said.
Meanwhile, flood water has receded in many parts, including Supaul, Sitamarhi, and West Champaran districts, providing some relief.