Bihar CM Nitish Kumar conducts aerial survey in three districts as water levels rise in several rivers in Bihar | India News – Times of India

PATNA: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday aerial photo of West Champaran, East Champaran and Gopalganj districts and the rising water level in various rivers in the three districts was mapped.
The water levels in several rivers in these districts have risen remarkably following the release of huge amounts of rainwater from the Valmiki Nagar-based Gandak Barrage and persistent rainfall in their catchment areas over the past few days. All major rivers in these three districts, including Gandak, Burhi Gandak and Lal Bakeya, originate in neighbouring Nepal.
The CM also inspected water level at the Gandak Dam near Valmiki Nagar and gave necessary instructions to the authorities.
During the inspection and assessment of the water level, the CM asked the officials to keep the state water resources department (WRD) on full alert and keep a constant watch on the water level in the rivers and the overall situation in the region.
“The district magistrate will ensure continuous monitoring of the situation in the low-lying areas where the flood water level is showing an increasing trend. The WRD engineers will have to remain alert and senior officials will camp in the affected areas,” Nitish told the officials during the assessment.
Nitish further said, “The detailed instructions, which have already been issued to all district magistrates and departments concerned as per standard operating procedures (SOP), should be followed to the letter.”
He said that the district administration should make full preparations regarding operation of boats, availability of relief materialsplastic sheeting, medicines, animal feed, dry ration packs and necessary supplies to the emergency relief centres so that people could get immediate help in case of floods.
Nitish also said that the disaster management department would regularly review what more needs to be done in the coming days so that the flood affected people do not face any problems. He said that the flood affected people should be provided all necessary assistance as per the SOP.
State WRD Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Chief Minister’s Secretary Deepak Kumar, Development Commissioner-cum-ACS (WRD) Chaitanya Prasad, Disaster Management Department ACS Pratyaya Amrit, West Champaran Chief Minister Dinesh Kumar Rai, Bagaha Chief Minister Sushant Kumar Saroj and several senior officials of WRD and district administration were present during the inspection of the Gandak dam, a communiqué issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) here on Monday said.