Flood-like situation in Bihar's Nalanda district due to breaches in embankments

    Patna, Jun 21 (PTI) Several areas in Bihar's Nalanda district experienced a flood-like situation after portions of some small dams were damaged due to a sudden rise in water level in Falgu River following heavy rainfall in neighbouring Jharkhand over the past few days, officials said on Saturday.
    In response to breaches in embankments across Nalanda and in some places in Jehanabad and Patna districts, the state’s water resources department suspended seven engineers, including an executive engineer and six junior engineers, for dereliction of duty.
    According to a statement issued by the state's Disaster Management Department (DMD), "Authorities released 73,000 cusecs of water from Uderasthan Barrage (in Jehanabad) due to a sudden increase in water level in Falgu River on June 19. The release of water from the barrage damaged portions of certain small dams causing a flood-like situation in several areas in Hilsa, Karaiparsurai and Ekangarsarai in Nalanda district."
    The authorities concerned are providing relief materials, including food packets and drinking water, to the affected people.
    Tents have been set up for the victims, they said.
    Two teams of NDRF have been deployed in the area for relief and rescue operations.
    State Water Resources Department Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said, "Adequate arrangements have been made for people affected by the floods in Nalanda and Jehanabad districts. Instructions have been issued to officials concerned in this regard."
    The minister said breaches in embankments have been reported from certain places in Nalanda, Jehanabad and Patna districts.
    "Repairs are carried out on a war-footing to restore the damaged embankments. The department has also suspended seven engineers for dereliction of duty, he said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)