By IANS
Patna : Large parts of Bihar's towns and villages were under a sea of water Sunday in the worst flooding in 30 years, forcing the authorities to turn to the military for rescue and relief operations.
Muzaffarpur town was said to have turned into a "floating city" while vast neighbourhoods in Patna were in ankle deep-water as the surging waters claimed 15 lives and affected over two million people across the state.
Official sources said military personnel in navy boats and air force helicopters were preparing to rescue the marooned and drop food packets in over 500 villages in the districts of Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, East Champaran, Supaul, Patna, Saharsa, Bhagalpur and West Champaran.
The Central Water Commission has warned that more areas might get flooded soon because rivers flowing through the state have crossed danger levels and breached several embankments.
The governor has directed legislators to personally monitor the distribution of relief packages. Leave of all officials posted in flood-hit areas has been cancelled.
"In view of the grim flood situation, the government has cancelled the leave of officers and asked the secretaries to visit the districts to review the situation," an official said.
A district level relief monitoring and vigilance committee has been set up.
Life in the state has been thrown out of gear, with road and rail traffic disrupted. The road connecting Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur districts has been submerged. Tracks in many places in Bhagalpur and Madhubani are flooded.
Dozens of educational institutions have been temporarily closed. The Muzaffarpur district administration has ordered the closure of all schools in waterlogged Muzaffarpur town and some rural areas.
"Muzaffarpur town has turned into a floating city due to heavy rain for last 10 days," an official said.
Classes have been disrupted in nearly 40 percent of all schools in Sitamarhi and over 25 percent in Motihari and Darbhanga districts.
Several residential localities in Patna are also waterlogged. The Patna High Court has directed officials of the Patna Municipal Corporation to appear before the court Aug 13 and submit a report on measures taken to remove water from the affected areas.
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