Patna: With four more deaths, the toll in Bihar floods today rose to 172 even as water level at many points in the swollen Ganga river receded.
Two fresh deaths were reported in Begusarai and one each in Bhojpur and Samastipur, a statement from state disaster management department said, adding that 61 animals had also perished in the calamity.
Swirling waters inundated 12 districts of Buxar, Bhojpur, Patna, Vaishali, Saran, Begusarai, Samastipur, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Munger, Bhagalpur and Katihar.
According to the Central Flood Control, the water level of the Ganga had receded at the Digha ghat, the Gandhi ghat (both in Patna district) and Munger. However they said that the water level of the river was still above “danger level” in Hathidah, Sahebganj and Farakka.
A statement from the Central Water Commission said that water was 55 cm below the danger mark in the Sone river at Maner in Patna district, adding that the Budhi Gandak was flowing 131 cm above red mark in Khagaria.
A total of 37.70 lakh people had been affected by the floods in different parts of the state, it said.
The swirling waters in the Ganga, Sone, Punpun, Burhi Gandak, Ghaghra, Kosi and other rivers inundated 77 blocks and 2,029 villages.
Around 3.99 lakh people have been placed in 655 camps, while 204 camps are working to take care of marooned cattle displaced due to inundation of cattle sheds at households in flooded areas.
The statement said that 2,915 boats were being run by the NDRF and the state government for relief and rescue of those marooned in different parts of the state.
Doctors and paramedic staff are working round the clock as part of 526 teams.