83 more dead in Bihar floods

The toll in the current spell of floods in 19 districts of Bihar rose to 540 after 83 more deaths were reported from four districts.

Sixteen deaths were reported from Darbhanga, 10 from Samastipur, 21 from Sheohar and 36 from Madhubani, official reports reaching Patna said.

Of the 540 people who died, 314 hailed from Darbhanga, Samastipur and Sitamarhi.

While the number of deaths in Darbhanga has risen to 130, Samastipur reported 110 and Sitamarhi 74, the reports said.

A Sheohar report quoting district magistrate Navin Kumar Sinha said 177 villages in five blocks of the district remained under water.

Major rivers, though receding, continued to flow above the danger mark at several places, a Central Water Commission release said.

Train services in seven sections of Samastipur division connecting Samastipur to Darbhanga, Sitamarhi and other places remained disrupted due to damage to tracks.

Repair work was on but it would take about 15 days for the traffic to resume on different sections, railway sources said.