Patna:
Death toll in Bihar floods has gone up to 166 as the situation has worsened in several parts of the state.
At least 5.9 million people spread over 20 districts have been displaced by rising floodwater, according to a disaster management department report today.
Major rivers in the state are flowing above danger marks in several areas, forcing people to move to safer places.
In Khagaria district, Gogri and Narayanpur embankments have been breached by up to ten meters flooding 21 villages of four panchayats.
The restoration and strengthening works on the embankments were underway on war footing, the report said.
In Arwal district, 30 people survived by swimming to safety after a country-made boat ferrying them capsized in Punpun river in Ibrahimpur village under Kinjar police station, it said.
The Water Resources Department (WRD) minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary held a high-level meeting to review discharge of water from the catchment area in Nepal and heavy rainfall in the riverine area near Ganga.
Principal Secretary (WRD) Arun Kumar Singh inspected status of embankment near Punpun river and directed the engineers to activate anti-flood sluice canal to discharge water from Pahari Nalla, Khanua Nalla and Badshahi Nalla areas.