Click to play videoNew Delhi: The surging waters of the Kosi river continued to rise in Bihar, flooding villages in Dharhara Kothi, Dhamdaha and Bhavaanipur blocks of Purnia. Hundreds of villages remained under water on the 14th day of the floods and millions were displaced and crying for rescue.
The water level in the flooded areas rose by two to three feet in several places as the river inundated fresh areas in Saharsa, Supaul, Araria and Madhepura - the worst-hit districts late Saturday night.
The breach of the Jankinagar Branch Canal (JBC) occurred after Nepal reportedly released around 2.5 lakh cuesec of water into the river. Strong currents and darkness made it difficult for authorities to plug the breach.
The canal carries water of the Kosi from Birpur in worst-affected Supaul district to Rupauli in Purnia where it merges in the main course of the swollen river once again.
Singh said efforts to plug the breach have been hindered by the strong currents and enveloping darkness.
Crucial railway lines in the area are also submerged, leading to suspension of train traffic on some routes, which are lifelines for the flood-affected from Madhepura to escape into safer areas.
IANS quotes an official of the state disaster management department as saying that nearly 4,00,000 marooned people have been evacuated and about 1,50,000 people sheltered in 170 relief camps set up in the affected districts.
Railway Minister Lalu Prasad is on his way to Saharsa, one of the worst affected parts to meet the flood-affected. Earlier he also met survivors at Patna railway station.
Meanwhile, angry villagers demanded that the worst flood-hit districts of Madhepura, Supaul, Araria and Saharsa be "handed over" to the Indian Army to save the hundreds of thousands still trapped.
IANS reports: "It is high time the state government handed over the districts to the army to save the lives of marooned people," said Mundeshwar Yadav, a resident of Madhepura and now sheltered in a relief camp in Saharsa, about 225 km from here.
"People have lost faith in the state government and patience is running out," said Bhola Sah, another flood victim at a relief camp.
A case was filed against Water Resources Development Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav and some officials, holding them responsible for a breach in an embankment of the Kosi that triggered the devastating flood.
The case was filed in the court of the chief judicial magistrate in Saharsa district Saturday.
Farmer leader Chatri Yadav in his petition said that the minister and some engineers were responsible for the breach in the river embankment. He filed a case after the local police station refused to lodge a case against the minister.
The farmer leader has urged the court to send the minister to jail, official sources said. The court has fixed Tuesday for hearing the case.
Earlier, a Patna-based lawyer Shruti Singh filed a public suit in the Patna High Court seeking the court's direction to plug the breach. The court is likely to hear the case in a day or two.
Opposition leaders have also blamed the minister for the breach that has caused the worst floods in the last 50 years.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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