Flooding in Nepal could leave thousands homeless

July 2, 2011 – NEPAL–

July 4, 2011 – NEPAL- PATNA: Hundreds of thousands of people in Bihar are living in fear after heavy rains caused several rivers to swell and flood over 100 villages, officials said Monday. The Bagmati river breached its embankment in Muzaffarpur district, while the rising waters in the Gandak and Kosi rivers are also posing a serious threat. “Bagmati river breached its embankment near Basghatta village in Muzaffarpur, creating panic in dozens of villages as the flood waters entered their homes,” said a disaster management department official. All the inundated villages are in the flood-prone districts of Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Purnia, Araria, Saharsa, Madhepura and Bagaha, officials said. Reports reaching here said road communication was snapped as water flooded many rural roads in the Katra block of Muzaffarpur. –Times of India

100 villages flooded: Patna- Hundreds of people in Bihar have been forced to abandon their homes as flood waters entered nearly 100 villages and rising levels of most rivers threatened to inundate many others, officials said on Saturday. All the inundated villages were in flood-prone districts of Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Purnia, Araria, Saharsa, Madhepura and Bagaha, officials said. “Water entered these villages after levels rose in all the major rivers following heavy rains in the state and the catchment areas of Nepal,” a water resource department official said. According to the Central Water Commission, the water level in major rivers – Kosi, Mahananda, Gandak, Budhi Gandak, and Bagmati – has increased since Friday. –NDTV