Bihar flood toll crosses 400 mark as situation eases

PATNA: Fifty-six deaths were reported from flood-hit areas of Bihar on Wednesday, taking the toll to 408 as the overall situation showed signs of improvement.

The state water resources department said the new deaths were reported from Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga and West Champaran districts.

The road construction department's Principal Secretary, R K Singh, said that the airdropping of relief materials in areas inaccessible by roads had been stopped this afternoon.

Four IAF helicopters used for relief operations since August four had dropped 69,185 food packets in flood-hit areas.

According to official figures, Darbhanga accounted for the largest number of deaths (77), followed by Samastipur (71), East Champaran (59), Khagaria (43), Muzaffarpur (42), Sitamarhi (27), Begusarai (18), Bhagalpur (14), West Champaran (14), Saharsa (12), Madhubani (eight), Madhepura (seven), Katihar (12), Gopalganj (two), Nalanda and Supaul (one each).

Officials said over 18.5 million people in 9,213 villages of 20 districts were hit badly by the floods.

The floods also destroyed standing crops estimated to be worth Rs 572.12 crore, 2,61,204 houses valued at Rs 199.95 crore and public property worth around Rs 92.79 crore, they said.