Flood situation grim in Odisha and Bihar, as water starts receding in Assam

The flood situation in Odisha and Bihar remained grim on Sunday, as death toll in lightning strikes in Odisha went up to 32 with three more casualties. The meteorological centre in Bhubaneswar said rain or thundershower is very likely to occur at most places over north and south Odisha on Monday. Gusty surface wind with 35 to 45 kmph speed and up to 50 kmph may prevail along and off south Odisha coast.

Sea condition would be moderate to rough in south Odisha coast and fishermen are advised to be cautious while venturing into sea.

In Assam, a day after Home minister Rajnath Singh carried out an aerial survey of the grim flood situation, rescue officials said that the water levels have been receding "considerably in several areas".

Kirpal Majumdar of the Assam Disaster Management Authority said that the Brahmaputra has receded in almost all areas, save three. "Only in Nemati Ghat, Goalpara and Dhubri, the rice is still flowing above the danger mark," he said. Nemati Ghat in Jorhat is the last point of contact towards the river island Majuli, which is the constituency of Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal.

The state IMD department stated that the rainfall levels have come down in several areas. "Duliajan's Dilighat recorded the highest at 60.2milimetres of rain, followed by Nemati Ghat with 56 ml of rainfall," said an official. Forecasts also pointed to a receding line.

Nemati Ghat, from where the ferry to Majuli plies every day, was closed for three days, stopping supplies and communication to Majuli. However, the ferry started plying two days ago, said local journalist Bipul Saikia. The CRPF said that the situation in Assam has improved in the last few days, and no rescue operations had taken place in the last two days. "Most of our rescue operations have been in the form of boat hospitals, that have been treating waterborne diseases," said an official, adding that dangers remain mostly in Majuli, Goalpara and Dhuburi.

In Bihar, where the flood toll stood at 26, an estimated 27.50 lakh people have been affected in 12 districts, though no fresh casualty was reported. Rivers including Ghaghra, Bagmati, Koshi and Mahananda are flowing above the danger mark at several places. The floods have also damaged crops in 3.39 lakh hectares of land.

(With inputs from agency)

Pilgrims injured in Uttarakhand

In Uttarakhand, five pilgrims were injured following a landslide in Rudraprayag where incessant rain led to blocking of several roads including the Chardham yatra routes. Debris falling from hillside has obstructed many routes including Rishikesh-Gangotri, Rishikesh-Yamunotri, Rishikesh- Badrinath National Highway affecting the ongoing Chardham
yatra here, an official said. While the national capital recorded scant rainfall, neighboruing Uttar Pradesh continued to receive heavy downpour with many rivers, including the Ganga and Sharda, flowing near or above the danger mark, creating flood-like situation in several villages in the catchment areas. While Baheri recorded 17 cm of rainfall, Palliakalan, Hamirpur and Bareilly registered 14 cm, 13 cm and 12 cm rain respectively. In West Bengal, Darjeeling in the north and the coastal resort town of Digha in the southern tip recorded moderate rains, while the rest of the state received little or no rainfall.

27.50 lakh people affected in Bihar floods

The flood situation remained grim in 12 districts of Bihar where an estimated 27.50 lakh people were affected though no fresh casualty was reported, with the toll standing at 26. Rivers Ghaghra-Darauli and Gangpur-Siswan in Siwan disrict, Bagmati-Benibad in Muzaffarpur district, Koshi-Baltara in Khagaria district, Mahananda-Dhengraghat in Purnia district and Jhhawa in Katihar district were flowing above the danger mark inundating 12 districts.

With several rivers in spate, as many as 12 districts have been flooded, affecting over 27.50 lakh people spread over 200 lakh hectare area, the Disaster Management Department said in a statement on Sunday.

The flood has also damaged crops in 3.39 lakh hectares of land, it said. Altogether 5521 houses and 4641 hutments have been damaged, the statement said, adding the damage to houses/hutments has been assessed at Rs 67.91 lakh while the valuation of public properties damaged in the flood was being assessed. Launching massive rescue and relief operations, the state government has pressed into service 1063 boats to rescue the affected people, with 5.98 lakh of them already shifted to safer places.

The state government has set up 415 relief camps where 2.96 displaced people have been sheltered. It has also deployed 112 medical teams to treat the ailing people at relief camps