Patna, Sep 8 (IANS) Heavy rains have led to flash floods in nearly 100 villages in the districts of Gaya, Nalanda, Jehanabad and Nawada in Bihar, officials said here Tuesday. The areas were drought hit just over a month ago.
“Flash floods have inundated at least 100 villages in Gaya, Jehanabad, Nalanda and Aurangabad districts. Those suffering from drought are now struggling to get rid of floodwater,” Magadh Commissioner Sanjeev Kumar Sinha told IANS over telephone.

Gaya, Nalanda, Nawada and Jehanabad are four of the 26 districts that were declared drought hit by the state government in June and July due to scanty rainfall that had also hit paddy seedling transplantation.

But now dozens of villages in Jehanabad are inundated with floodwater and the road links have snapped in several places due to the heavy rains in the last three days.

“The flash floods have affected several villages in Modanganj and Ghosi blocks but the situation is under control,” said Jehanabad District Magistrate Palka Sahni.

The Falgu river, which is usually almost dry, is flowing above the danger mark due to the downpour in Gaya and Jehanabad. Similarly, the Morhar river in Gaya and Jirain river in Nalanda are also flowing above the danger mark.

Floodwaters have entered dozens of villages in Gaya, Nalanda and Nawada too.

Bihar has recorded a 21 percent rainfall deficit so far this monsoon. But till the first week of August, the rainfall deficit recorded was 42 percent.