Death toll rises to 228 in Bihar floods

With six more deaths, the toll in Bihar floods today increased to 228 even as the flood situation eased with all major rivers except Punpun, Kosi and Kamlabalan, flowing below danger mark. Three persons each died in districts of Saran and Begusarai, a Disaster Management Department statement said. 31.30 lakh people have been affected in 1,725 villages of 12 districts, the release said.

As per the department's release, a total of 3.94 lakh people have been evacuated from the 12 flood-affected districts of Buxar, Bhojpur, Patna, Vaishali, Saran, Begusarai, Samastipur, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Munger, Bhagalpur and Katihar.

The government has deployed 2,537 boats for evacuation, while national and state disaster response forces were already working in the affected districts, it said. 1.98 lakh people have taken shelter in 271 relief camps.

The number of camps has gone down from yesterday's 318. A total of 220 camps are being operated for cattle affected by flooding.

According to the state water resources department, Punpun river at Sripalpur in Patna, Kosi river at Baltara in Khagaria district and Kamlabalan in Jhanjharpur district were flowing above danger level.

The Ganga continued to recede at Digha ghat, Gandhi ghat and Hathidah in Patna district and Buxar, Munger, Kahalgaon and Bhagalpur in Bhagalpur district, the release added.