Motihari converted into floating city following heavy rains for last 6 days

Photo by Imteyaz Ahmad

Satish Aditya
Motihari : Incessant rain for last 6 days has converted Motihari, headquarters of East Champaran district in North Bihar, into a floating city. The district, which was rain deficient with only 15 % paddy transplantation completed  till July 6, 2019, has recorded 354 mm rain in the last 6 days.

This unprecedented  rainfall in the district has disrupted agricultural activities as rain water has accumulated in all the agriculture fields and the farmers will take at least 7 days to resume the paddy transplanting. District Agriculture Officer (DAO), East Champaran, Onkarnath Singh, said that  the target of paddy transplantation will be achieved with this rain. Paddy, the principal crop during this season, was transplanted in around 30,000 hectare  till first week of July against the target of 2.15 lakhs hectare.

DM, East Champaran, DM Raman Kumar, after assessing the situation, has already issued prohibitory orders in Motihari
town and ordered for closure of all the private and government schools till July 13, 2019, as the rain water has entered many residential and school buildings.

Thigh deep water has accumulated on Sadar Hospital, Motihari, campus while three to four feet deep water has accumulated in Chandmari, Rajendra Nagar, Gopalpur, S K Nagar, Agarwa, and Professors colony, Belbanwa, Belisarai, and  Mathiya localities. Dr Chandranshu, a Surgeon and resident of Chandmari, said that the people have to wade through ankle-deep water on the road but the district administration is yet to respond to the situation.

Dr Deepak Kumar, Executive Engineer, Flood Control, said that there is no threat of flood as all the rivers are flowing
below of danger mark. The water discharge  of  Valmikinagar Barrage was  80,000 Cusec on July 12. S K Tiwari, Executive Engineer, Sikrahna Embankment, said the water level of river Burhi Gandak is rising but is flowing 4 metre below the danger level. But, Bagmati  and Lalbakeya rivers have crossed danger level and flood water has entered around  two dozen
villages under Patahi and Madhuban blocks of the district.