Five districts in Bihar hit by flood, toll rises to 42

Patna, Oct 1 (UNI) More than 1.7 million people are hit by flood due to swelling of rivers following incessant rains in 15 districts of the state even as two IAF choppers continued to drop food packets in the state capital for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.

At least 42 people lost their lives and nine others injured due to excess rainfall across the state.

Sources at the disaster management department said the flood-affected districts are Patna, Bhojpur, Bhagalpur, Nawada, Nalanda, Khagaria, Samastipur, Lakhisarai, Begusarai, Vaishali, Buxar, Katihar, Jehanabad, Arwal and Darbhanga.

Sources said the incessant heavy downpour had lashed these districts of the state from September 27 to 30 swelling major rivers.

More than 17 lakh people are hit by flood at 786 villages in 494 Panchayats of these districts.