Patna: Unconfirmed reports have pegged the death toll from the incessant rains in Bihar at more than 30. PTI, however, has said 25 people have died over the weekend, as heavy rains pounded the state, leading to an extraordinary spate of water logging in Patna and the state asking for the Air Forces to aid in relief measure.
Monday morning saw the first let up in the rains, even though the India Meteorological Department has predicted showers later in the day.
According to the state disaster management department, six casualties have been reported from Gaya district where five persons were buried alive in a wall collapse while another person was drowned in a river which was in spate because of incessant rains. In addition, police in the adjoining district of Jehanabad confirmed the death of a three-year-old girl who was crushed to death when the wall of an old house, adjacent to a street where she was playing, caved in.
On Sunday, 18 deaths were reported from across the state in mishaps attributed to the torrential rainfall.
This is really serious,how heavy rain lashes in the dak bungalow road &other posh area of #Patna even it’s alert for flood too..? #PatnaRains #Bihar #BiharRains #BiharFlood #PatnaFlood stay safe! pic.twitter.com/i1J0U1YZPo
— Amiya Mohan (@amiya_mohan) September 28, 2019
The disaster management department said that the state government has urged the Indian Air Force to send a helicopter for air-dropping of food packets and other relief material in marooned areas. Nineteen teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed, reported NDTV.
Deputy chief minister Sushil Modi, whose own residence was affected by the deluge, was seen doing the rounds of the city clad in a T-shirt and shorts, and issuing instructions to officials. Reports said Modi himself had to be rescued by the NDRF from his residence.
The district administration has ordered closure of all schools till October 1 as a preventive measure and warned of strict punishment to those who violated the direction and “put the lives of teachers and students at risk”.
The situation of patna rains is worsening. It’s day 3 of continuous rain with all the colonies submerged in water.. Be safe and be prepared!! #PatnaRains #patnafloods pic.twitter.com/BGlt8gN3WM
— Salv!!_08 (@sinha_salvi) September 29, 2019
District Magistrate Kumar Ravi has said that sump houses were working round-the-clock to flush out water from inundated streets and pointed out that “a not too high” water level in the Ganga meant that there would be no problem of reverse flow.
Motorcyclists were seen driving through knee-deep waters after covering the silencers of their two-wheelers with plastic bottles and pipes inserted to allow emission of fumes without water entering the exhaust pipes.
At some places, people living in houses situated on either side of a street helped each other with items of daily use which were rolled down on unfurled ‘gamchas’ (a thin towel), corners of which were held by people standing atop boundary walls.
PM Modi should stop giving gyaan on #MannKiBaat & turn attention towards #PatnaFloods
Smart City Patna is under water. People are complaining about lack of drinking water & food. Most helplines aren’t working & very little rescue operations
Where are @NitishKumar & @SushilModi? pic.twitter.com/pT6aGFB9HQ
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) September 29, 2019
Patna Nagar Nigam personnel, donning yellow raincoats, could be seen at various spots trying to unclog the manholes that have been choked by polythene and debris a common sight in the city which has witnessed unregulated construction which has contributed to the water-logging.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar had spoken to P.K. Mishra, principal secretary to the prime minister, on September 21 urging him to take steps to check the water level in the Ganges here which had then risen to alarming levels.
The situation of patna rains is worsening. It’s day 4 of continuous rain with all the colonies submerged in water..A rickshaw puller found crying at Rajendra nagar.. #prayforpatna #PatnaRains #patnafloods pic.twitter.com/ecL68wu8oy
— Shristi Sinha (@Shristi54995488) September 29, 2019
More than a million cusecs of water were subsequently released through the Farakka barrage downstream.
Social media has been abuzz with the heart-rending image of a rickshaw-puller who broke down upon being caught in chest-deep water, unable to pull out the vehicle on which he depended for a living. In the video, a couple apparently living on the upper story of an adjacent house can be heard asking the hapless man to rush to a safer spot, assuring him that they will keep a watch on his cycle rickshaw until the water subsided and he was able to take it back.
Worst situation at Patna.see how this rickshaw puller is crying..Heartwrenching! pic.twitter.com/FlcAOOn2Mz
— Ankit (@i_ankit1) September 29, 2019
(With PTI inputs)