Death toll in Bihar flood mounts to 304

The death toll in Bihar floods has crossed the 300 mark with 51 people losing their lives since yesterday.

The figure of flood fatalities stood at 253 till yesterday. 1.38 crore people are battling the deluge in 18 districts of the state.

Around 7.34 lakh people have been shifted to safer areas.

Close to 3.27 lakh people are putting up in 1,346 relief camps.

Araria district accounted for 71 deaths alone, Sitamarhi (34), West Champaran (29), Katihar (26), Madhubani (22), East Champaran (19), Darbhanga (19), Madhepura (15), Supual (13), Kisanganj (11), Gopalganj (9), Purnea (9) Muzaffarpur (7), Khagaria (6), Saran (6) and Saharsa (4), Sheohar (4).

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held a high-level ministerial meeting to take stock of the flood situation.

Principal Secretary in the Disaster Management Department Pratyay Amrit said food packets were being airdropped in the inundated areas on war footing.

The CM ordered that damaged roads be restored at the earliest.

Meanwhile, train services continued to be affected as floodwaters have overtopped tracks.

An East Central Railways statement said train services have resumed on some sections under the Samastipur division with speed restriction.

Chief Public Relations Officer of the ECR Rajesh Kumar said 11 trains have been cancelled for tomorrow.

These include 15549 Jaynagar-Patna Intercity Express, 25909 Link Express, 15211 Darbhanga-Amritsar Express and 15212 Amritsar-Darbhanga Express, he said.