Bihar floods: At least 56 dead, 69.81 lakh people affected; rail, road traffic hit

Patna: The flood situation in Bihar continues to remain grim where 69.81 lakh people have been hit by inundation in 13 districts and 56 people have lost their lives.

The devastating flood has washed away thousands of huts, badly damaged buildings, roads, bridges and standing crops worth crores.

The 56 deaths have been reported from Araria, West Champaran, Kisanganj, Sitamarhi, Madhepura, East Champaran, Darbhanga, Madhubani and Sheohar.

In total 13 districts have been hit by inundation, with Muzaffarpur being the latest addition.

To take stock of the ground situation, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made his second aerial survey of flood-hit areas on Tuesday.

Kumar said he had told officials to speed up rescue and relief work. He also requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to provide all possible aid. Both have assured him of help.

The government has launched massive relief and rescue operations with help from the Army, Air Force as well as National Disaster Response Force and Bihar State Disaster Response Force teams.

East Central Railway (ECR) chief public relations officer Rajesh Kumar said that no train is going beyond Katihar towards the north east as flood waters have inundated the railway tracks.

A report from Katihar said that railway bridge number 133 in Barsoi-Kisanganj section of Katihar division of North East Frontier Railway has been badly damaged in flood.