Fresh areas inundated,death toll rises to 14 in Bihar

According to an official report,swirling waters affected scores of villages under Bahadurganj,Terhagachhi,Dighalbank,Kochadhaman,Bahadurganj,and Potahi in Kishanganj district.

More than 50 villages were affected by floods under Palasi,Jokihat,Araria,Forbesganj and Kursakata block in Araria district. Many villages were submerged in Banmankhi and Krityanandnagar blocks in Western Purnia by turbulent Kosi which was steadily eroding its embankment,the report said.

Swirling waters of the Adhwara group of rivers inundated the national highway near Khirma village in Keoti block,causing temporary suspension of vehicular traffic.

Meanwhile,around 7.5 lakh people continue to reel under flood with several rivers,including Mahananda,Kankai,Donk,Mecchi,Ratua,and Bakra,besides,Bagmati,Kamala Balan and Adhwara,submerging hundreds of villages in the districts of Purnia,Araria,Kishanganj,Saharsa,Supaul,Madhepura,Sitamarhi and Darbhanga,the sources said.

According to Central Water Commission report,most of the rivers in Bihar,including Bagmati,Adhwara groups of rivers,Kamalabalan,Kosi and Mahananda were flowing above their danger mark at different places along their course.

While Bagamati was flowing 84 cm and 76 cm above the danger mark at Benibad and Hayaghat respectively,Adhwara group of rivers crossed the danger level by 59 cm and 50 cm at Kamtaul and Ekmighat respectively.

Similarly,water level of Kamala Balan was 72 cm above the danger mark at Jhanjharpur and Kosi was flowing 29 cm and 141 cm above danger level at Basua and Baltara respectively.

Mahananada too was flowing 73 cm and 55 cm above the danger mark at Dhengraghat and Jhawa respectively.

State water resources department,however,claimed that the embankments of all the rivers were safe.