Residents of Rajendra Nagar area relocate to a safer place on Sunday after their houses got flooded following unprecedented heavy rains in Pana over the last few days.
By Dheeraj Kumar
Patna: At least 22 people have died in separate incidents caused by heavy downpour in Patna, Bhagalpur,Nawada, Gaya districts.district today.
Police said four members of a family including a girl were killed when a huge tree uprooted from the ground following heavy rainfall fell on an auto rickshaw near Loco Colony under Khagaul police station area in Patna district.
Police said the deceased had been identified as Chinta Devi (60), Munni Devi (50), Babita Devi (30) and Muskan (1). Sources said that women along with the girl were going to meet their relative in Loco Colony before visiting a doctor when the mishap took place.
The bodies had been sent to Danapur sub divisional hospital for autopsy.
According to a report from Bhagalpur, six people were killed in three separate incidents of wall collapse caused by heavy downpour in the district today.
Bhagalpur District Magistrate Pranav Kumar said here three people were killed when an old wall of a temple situated on the bank of Ganga river caved in and fell on them near Hanuman Nagar under Barari police station area. The deceased had been identified as Vikas Chandra, Vivek Kumar and Kshitiz Kumar. The mishap took place when a large number of people assembled at the bank of Ganga river to take bath and collect holy water on the first day of Navratra.
The DM said that two people were killed and some others injured when the wall of an old house on Maharaj Ghat collapsed and fell on them in Bari Khanjarpur locality under Tilka Manjhi police station area. The deceased had been identified as Anil Sharma and Saloni Kumari.
The injured had been admitted to Bhagalpur Medical College and Hospital.
the District Magistrate said similarly an old person died when a mud wall collapsed and fell on him in Sundarban locality under Tilka Manjhi police station area. The deceased was identified as Shukkar Das.
District authorities said the dependents of each deceased would be paid Rs 4 lakh as per provisions of the disaster management department.
No respite in sight
There is no respite in sight for people of Bihar including those of the state capital as incessant rainfall continues to lash the state for second consecutive day today. While large swathes are inundated, railway traffic, healthcare services, schools are affected and power supply is disrupted.
The state is having heavy downpour for the last 36 hours swelling major rivers including Ganga as several districts of the state are now grappling with flood.
Nobody can predict the weather: Nitish Kumar
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said today that while Bihar is witnessing incessant rainfall for the last 5-6 days and nobody could predict how weather would behave next.
“I expect that rainfall would continue for at least next three days.” He lamented that even the meteorological department was unable to provide accurate information on when the current spell of rainfall would come to an end.
Weather Department Issues Warning
The Indian Meteorological department has meanwhile issued a “red warning” for heavy to very Heavy rainfall (12-20 cm) at one or two places on Monday, “very likely over the districts of SUPAUL, ARARIA, KISHANGANJ, MADHEPURA, PURNEA, SAHARSHA, KHAGARIA, MUNGER, BANKA, BHAGALPUR, KATIHAR”.
The IMD has also issued an “orange warning” for heavy rainfall(7-11cm) at one or two places very likely over the districts of SAMASTIPUR,VAISHALI,BEGUSARAI,JAMUI,MADHUBANI,DARBHANGA,LAKHISARAI.
Furthermore, the IMD has issued a “yellow warning” for heavy rainfall (7-11cm) at one or two places very likely over the districts of PATNA,NALNDA,BHOJPUR,BUXARARWAL,JAHANABAD.
IMD Press release dated 29.09.2019
In the state capital, the problem of water logging is assuming dangerous proportion throwing life of common people completely out of gear.
Localities like Boring Road, Bailey Road, Patliputra Colony, Kankarbagh, Rajendra Nagar, Patna University, Mahendru, Gandhi Maidan, Dak Bunglow roundabout, Ashiana Nagar,Jagdeo Path, Patna City and almost all other places of the state capital are facing acute problem of water logging.
Places like road number 6 of Rajendra Nagar, Moin-ul-Haque stadium and its adjoining areas are presenting sight of flood.
On the other hand, six rivers including Patna are overflowing the danger mark. The flood water has gushed into hundreds of villages in Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Saran, Muzaffarpur and other districts.
At least 10 people lost their lives in separate mishaps caused by heavy downpour in Bhagalpur and Patna districts today.
Meanwhile, the chief minister convened an emergency meeting and held discussions with senior officers and district magistrates of various districts on the second consecutive day today in view of incessant rainfall and subsequent flood.
After the meeting, chief minister Kumar told newspersons that people should keep patience in unexpected natural calamity. Government would ensure that people do not face crunch of necessary commodities at any cost, he added.
“We have to accept the situation with some courage. Government is making consistent efforts to provide necessary facilities to common people in view of their difficulties,” he remarked.
State urban development and housing minister Suresh Kumar Sharma today made an on the spot assessment by visiting water logged areas of the state capital.
Patna district magistrate Kumar Ravi ordered for suspension of academic activities at all government and private hospitals till October 1. In other districts too, academic activities have been suspended at all schools till Tuesday.
East Central railway (ECR) has cancelled 28 express and passenger trains and 20 other trains have been diverted.
CM appeals for maintaining peace
Chief Minister Kumar meanwhile also called upon people not to lose their courage in view of the incessant rains during the last several hours and assured them of government`s all possible help.
After holding high level meeting here for the second consecutive day, Kumar took information about the existing situation from officers and gave them necessary directions.
Kumar said entire government team was working to provide all possible help to needy people not only in the state capital and other urban centres but also in rural areas under the supervision of district magistrates. “Arrangement is being made to set up relief camps and community kitchens,” he added.
The chief minister said that climate change was happening due to imbalance in environment as heavy rainfall was recorded in the beginning in some regions bringing flood in the process. He said subsequently state started facing problem of deficient rainfall and drought like situation was created. Later, water level of Ganga river began rising and people living along banks of the river started facing problems at some places, he added.
