Flood alert in Bihar after release of water from barrages

This may aggravate the condition of over 13.5 lakh people in 12 districts who were already affected by heavy rains

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The Bihar government has sounded an alert for floods along swollen rivers such as Kosi, Gandak and Ganga in northern and central parts of the state following the release of water from Valmikinagar and Birpur barrages on Saturday, a senior official said.

The development may aggravate the condition of over 13.5 lakh people in 12 districts, who were already affected by inundation following heavy rain.

A total of 5.31 lakh cusecs of water was released from Birpur Barrage on Kosi River till 2 pm, the highest in 56 years, said Santosh Kumar Mall, Principal Secretary of the state Water Resources Department.