No let up in flood fury in 6 Bhojpur blocks

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara: There is no let up in flood fury in six blocks of Bhojpur district and Ara town area. Over 220 villages of 66 panchayats in the district have been inundated as river Ganga is still maintaining rising trend. With the death of four more persons, the death toll in the flood in rivers Sone and Ganga has increased to 16.

Dina Kahar, 60, of Bihata under Imadpur police station, Kalika Yadav, 60, of Madhopur village under Karnamepur police outpost, Bikrant alias Preetam, 18, son of Siddhanath Ram of Baraka Lauhar under Barahara police station and Md Irfan Ansari, 12, son of Md Idrish of Ramsagar under Barahara police station drowned while taking bath in the flood water on Sunday.

Meanwhile, erosion by the Ganga is posing threat to the villages and human lives under Barahara block. Majhauli, Mauzampur and Tribhuani villages in Barahara block are facing erosion at a fast speed as the river is flowing just 10 to 15 meter away from village Majhauli. Thousands of people of these villages along with their belongings and cattleheads have shifted to safer places.  The Ganga has wreaked havoc in six blocks: Barahara, Shahpur, Bihia, Udwantnagar, Koelwar and Ara-in the northern part of Bhojpur district and still flowing above the danger mark.

District Public Relation Officer (DPRO) Shambhu Nath Jha said that  relief and rescue operation was going on in 16 panchayats and over 5,000 people had taken shelter at 14 relief camps. Food packets are being supplied to the people, who have taken shelter on embankments, schools and community halls. Meanwhile, flood-affected people demanded that relief operation should be intensified.