Villagers of Saharsa, Gopalganj and Bhagalpur lost houses due to soil erosion.
Villagers of Saharsa, Gopalganj and Bhagalpur lost houses due to soil erosion.
Patna September 13: The villagers of Bihar’s Saharsa, Gopalganj and Bhagalpur districts have lost their houses due to soil erosion in the banks of the Kosi, Gandak and Ganga Rivers.
The water level of all major rivers including Kosi, Gandak and Ganga has receded below the danger level, but severe soil erosion is taking a heavy toll on these three districts.
In Saharsa district, around 24 houses of ward number 13 of Dholapur Panchayat were submerged in the Kosi River. Villagers have taken shelter in those houses which are located away from the River. Women in the community have set up community kitchens, where they are jointly preparing meals while waiting for the water of the Kosi River to subside. With no immediate help in sight, they are left dependent on the mercy of nature.
“Such a situation has remained here for the last 15 days. When the flood threat loomed over our village, we informed the water resource department and district officials to take measures on anti-soil erosion, but no preventive measures were taken. As a result, 24 houses located near the riverbank were lost to the Kosi River,” said Laxman Mahto, a ward member of Dhola Panchayat.
“There is no government aid has reached the flood-affected victims,” he said.
In Gopalganj, villages such as Rampur Tekrahi, Jagiri Tola, Maqsoodpur, Katgharwa, Bhaisli, and Rajwahi under the jurisdictions of Sadar block are severely affected due to soil erosion.
The residents of these villagers have been forced to flee their houses and live in makeshift huts near Durgaha Bridge.
“We have a village in Maqsoodpur and our houses and agricultural field are swallowed by the Gandak River. We are currently living near the bridge in makeshift huts. We have only one source of earning and that is agriculture. Our crops are destroyed in flood and we are struggling to earn money for our livelihood. There is no alternative source of income here and government officials are not paying attention to our situation,” said Saryu Kumar, a villager.
In Bhagalpur district, the residents of Masadhu village under the jurisdiction of Sabour block a tower of potable water submerged in the Ganga River.
Villagers alleged that the district administration has not taken adequate measures to prevent soil erosion.
Also Read: Patna is facing flood threats due to the Ganga and Punpun Rivers.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological department has predicted moderate to heavy rain in several parts of Bihar in the next three days.
The officials have alerted the people to take precautions while working in the agricultural field.
There will be moderate to heavy rain on Friday in the Nawada, Gaya, Jamui, Banka, Munger, and Lakhisarai districts of Bihar on Friday. A yellow alert has been issued in these districts regarding heavy rain and thunderstorms. There is also a possibility of rain on 14 and 15 September.
On September 14, there will be rain expected in Gaya, Nawada, Jamui, Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Banka, Munger and Bhagalpur. On September 15, there is a yellow alert for rain in Aurangabad, Arwal, Gaya, Jehanabad, Bhojpur, Kaimur, Rohtas, Buxar, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai and Munger. There is a possibility of thunder and lightning strikes along with rain in these districts.
EOM.
