Video Editor: Vishal Kumar
At least 73 people have been killed and nine are left injured due to heavy rainfall which continues to batter Bihar, read a statement released by the Bihar State Disaster Management Authority on Wednesday, 2 October.
Meanwhile, an orange alert has been issued in Patna, Vaishali, Begusarai and Khagaria districts for 3 and 4 October, news agency ANI reported.
The Centre has dispatched 20 teams of the NDRF and pressed into service Indian Air Force helicopters to help flood-hit people in Bihar. Two helicopters of the Indian Air Force were deployed in rescue and relief operations. The Bihar government has informed the NCMC that there has been flooding in 16 districts, PTI reported.
On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted saying he has spoken to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and that the Centre will provide “all possible further assistance”.
The weather department has predicted a delayed withdrawal of monsoon and more rains for Patna, where several areas still remain submerged due to heavy rainfall over the last three days.
Extensive evacuation, rescue and relief efforts have been undertaken by the state government, in which all assistance has been rendered by the NDRF and other Central agencies, the official said. Four heavy duty pumps, made available by the Ministry of Coal are reaching Patna and the pumps would be used to drain out about 3,000 gallons of water per minute from water logged areas, according to PTI.
Essential supplies of food and drinking water are being supplied by the state government and efforts are on for restoration of electricity in flood affected areas.
NDRF Rescue Teams at Scene
Four people were killed in Khagaul after a tree fell on an auto-rickshaw and at least three people were killed and several feared trapped under rubble after a wall collapsed earlier in the day in Bhagalpur.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescue teams are reportedly at the scene.
Heavy rains since Friday have disrupted normal life in Bihar, affecting railways, aviation, healthcare services and local businesses.
Flooded roads in Bihar’s Patna.
(Photo: The Quint)
Patna, in particular, has borne the brunt of the deluge. Several localities are waterlogged and the administration has ordered schools to remain closed till Tuesday. NDRF and SDRF personnel have been deployed to rescue residents from waterlogged areas with the help of boats.
‘Nature’s Fury,’ Says Nitish Kumar
On Saturday, rainwater entered the premises of the Nalanda Medical College Hospital, the second largest healthcare unit in Patna, and the Gardanibagh Hospital, PTI reported.
The rains also disrupted vehicular traffic and plying of ambulances, impeding the transportation of essential items like oxygen cylinders, which were reportedly carried in hand-pulled carts.
Residences of Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, Road Construction Minister Nand Kishore Yadav and BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy were also submerged, according to PTI.
"It is natures fury before which man is often helpless. We are, however, trying our best. The problem is, we have no idea how long the downpour which caps a prolonged dry spell causing a drought-like situation is going to last. Even the weather department seems clueless, making different predictions at different points of time," Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told reporters, according to PTI.
On Wednesday, Kumar reiterated his stance saying that climate change has led to the "present condition in Bihar".
Twitter ‘Flooded’ With Waterlogged Patna
Videos and photographs shared on social media painted a grim picture of a waterlogged Patna. One widely circulated video shows a man who broke down after his rickshaw got stuck in the water.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
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