Patna: More than 34 lakh people across 480 gram panchayats in 79 blocks of 13 districts continued to remain affected by floods in Bihar on Tuesday, even as water levels in several major rivers began to fall. The Ganga, however, continued to pose a threat in eastern Bihar, while relief and rescue operations were intensified across the state.The Ganga was receding fast at Digha, Gandhi Ghat and Mokama in Patna, but remained above the danger level at all three locations. It was flowing 1 metre above the danger level at Digha, 1.60 metres at Gandhi Ghat and 1.18 metres at Banka Ghat. At Pandarak, the water level fell from 43.73 metres in the morning to 43.71 metres by 3pm, slightly below the HFL of 43.73 metres.Further east, the Ganga at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur remained close to its highest flood level of 36.75 metres and was still 2.31 metres above the danger level.There was some relief as discharge through the Kosi, Gandak and Sone rivers declined. Water discharge through Birpur barrage on the Kosi was 1.61 lakh cusecs, while Valmikinagar barrage on the Gandak recorded 92,900 cusecs. The discharge through Indrapuri barrage on the Sone was 1.98 lakh cusecs, with a slight increase recorded in the afternoon after a fall in the morning.The Punpun, which had caused considerable damage after breaching ring bunds in parts of Patna district, has also begun to calm. It was flowing 17 cm above the danger level at Patepur and 2.89 metres above it at Sripalpur. The Dardha was 80cm above the danger level.Meanwhile, 432 community kitchens are serving flood-affected people across Bihar, while 1,832 boats have been deployed for evacuation and movement. Around 9.41 lakh people have received meals through the kitchens, while 14 relief camps are providing accommodation, food and medical care to 12,294 people.In Patna, community kitchens are being run at several locations on the instructions of district magistrate Kundan Kumar, serving nearly 70,000 plates of food daily. Assistant disaster management officer Naman said rice, pulses and vegetables were being served for lunch and dinner, while children below five were also being given milk at relief centres in the morning and evening.Minar Ghat, Mokama, Didarganj, Barh and Danapur are among the major locations where the kitchens are operating. Volunteers and police personnel have been deployed to ensure orderly distribution and food safety.The govt has distributed around 1.29 lakh polythene sheets, 22,900 dry ration packets and 3,142 quintals of animal fodder. Twenty-seven SDRF teams and 10 NDRF teams have also been deployed.The Bihar Meteorological Centre has forecast light to moderate rain at several places over the next two days, with heavy rain at isolated locations.
