Water Recedes but Problems Mount in Many Areas
Patna: Sept. 3, 2008
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Flood scenes from Madhepura and Saharsa
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Photo by Shashi Uttam |
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Despite signs of recession in the Kosi River and some even returning to their homes in Madhepura and Purnia districts, flood situation in many areas including Supaul, Saharsa, Forbesganj, and Khagaria remained grim with fresh water entering into dozens of villages that had so far escaped the wrath of rising water.
Nearly half a dozen new deaths were reported from Madhepura, Kumarkhand, Saharsa, Sonebarsa, and Dhamdaha.
Thousands of people are said to be stranded in Shankarpur, Murliganj, and Kumarkhand areas while over 20 houses were washed away in the flood water in the Amaur block of Purnia on Wednesday.
Meanwhile hundreds of thousands of people returned to Madhepura on Wednesday only to find their homes completely ruined by the flood water.
In many blocks of Saharsa, the water level went down by nearly a foot while in Supaul water was down by nearly two feet.
Railway services were also partially restored on Saharsa-Madhepura section with more trains to begin plying by Friday, officials in Saharsa said.
With water receding in most areas, comes the fear of epidemic. In Araria, cases of illness including malaria and diaorrhea have gone up in last few days with the situation further compounded by the lack of adequate physicians in the region.
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