Satish Aditya
Motihari : Heavy and torrential rain in catchment areas of Someshwar range in Nepal and East and West Champaran districts in
North Bihar for the last four days has led to alarming increase in water level of all the major rivers including Burhi Gandak,
Gandak, Bagmati, Masan, and Lalbakeya rivers.
The water of Bagmati and Lalbakeya rivers have already entered the low lying areas of at least 24 villages under Patahi block , 8 villages under Fenehara block, and 7 villages under Dhaka block in East Champaran district.
The swollen Dudhaura and Bangari hilly rivers on July 12, 2020, evening, breached the Zamindari embankment near Chhoradano and
inundated 200 acres having standing paddy crop in Narkatiya, Purainiya, Bhatnahiya, Tinkoni, and Hiramani villages under Chhoradano block. The flood water overtopped several village roads at 8 points disrupting communication.
Pankaj Kumar, Circle Officer (CO), Chhoradano, said,”We are keeping as close watch on the situation.” East Champaran DM Shirshat Kapil Ashok and SP Navin Chandra Jha along with block officials have visited Khoripakad, Jihuli, Padumker under Patahi block and said boats, motorboats, NDRF and SDRF teams are ready to tackle the flood in the area.
The road communication remains disrupted on Motihari- Sheohar road for the last four days as 4 feet deep flood water is flowing on this road in a stretch of 3 km from Dewapur under Patahi in East Champaran to Belawa in Sheohar district. Around 12 villages are reeling under flood. The DM claimed that the flood water is receding in this area and situation has improved.
The flood situation aggravated on July 12, 2020, evening, in several villages under Patahi block in East Champaran besides
bordering villages in Sheohar district when a ring bund near Bagmati Dam (under construction) at Dewapur breached. According to water resources department, in West Champaran, the swollen Gandak continues to play havoc in 23 villages under Bagaha 1 and Bagaha 2, Thakraha, Bhitaha, and Piprasi blocks under Bagaha Sub-Division.
The Gandak water has entered 32 villages under five blocks: Gopalganj Sadar, Baikunthpur, Manjha, Sidhawaliya, and Kuchaykot. These villages are located between either side of Gandak embankmet. The water of Bagmati river has entered area in West Embankment side of the river inundating around 1,000 houses under Aurai block in Muzaffarpur District sand Babhangawa block in Sitsmarhi District. Meanwhile, Gandak Barrage on July 13, 2020, diaschsarged over 3 lakh Cusec water.