Disaster like Kosi flood averted

A disaster like the 2008 Kosi floods in North Bihar was staved off when vigilant rescue and relief workers plugged the second protective embankment after the turbulent Gandak river breached it near Semaria village in Gopalganj district on Friday.

More than 520 people had lost their lives and about 14 lakh people were displaced from five North Bihar districts in the Kosi floods. “We are fighting against odds but are confident. The Water Resource Department (WRD) had successfully faced a similar situation in Sitamarhi by constructing a new embankment and we will save the villages here as well,” said WRD Principal Secretary Ajay Naik.

After spending three days in schools acting as shelter houses, families returned to their homes on Friday. “We have seen the Gandak floods in 2000 and know the river’s mood. If the water comes we’ll move to safer areas,” said Raghvendra Singh, 62, of Barauli.