Bihar flood situation likely to aggravate (The Hindu 13 September 2011)

Looking for safer haven: A woman leads her cattle in search of a safer place after increase in water level in areas around the Ganga near Patna on Monday. — Photo: Ranjeet Kumar
The flood situation in Bihar is likely to aggravate following discharge of 8.3 lakh cusecs of water from Bansagar dam in Madhya Pradesh, said State Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday after making an aerial survey on Sunday.
The flood situation in several districts of central and north Bihar is likely to aggravate once the water discharged from the dam enters the Sone river in central Bihar and the Ganga in north-central part of the state, he told journalists.
Flood waters have already entered villages situated on either side of the Sone, trapping a large number of people. A flood-like situation will be created in north-central Bihar when the released water enters the Ganga, Mr. Kumar said.
The Disaster Management Department has pressed into service National Disaster Relief Force teams to evacuate people trapped by the flood waters.
Some people who had taken refuge at higher places have been evacuated and provided with succour, the Chief Minister said, adding that rescue operations are under way to evacuate the remaining.
Ruling out help from the Air Force for rescue and relief operations as of now, Mr. Kumar said the disaster management department was competent enough to tackle the situation.
The water was released from the Bansagar dam into Sone river two days ago.