Patna/Bhagalpur, Sudden erosion along the Ganga in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district damaged a 50-metre embankment and affected around 40-50 houses, four of which were completely destroyed, officials said on Saturday.
The erosion began around 6 pm on Friday near Mahadevpur Ghat in Raghopur village, along an abandoned railway line on the river’s left bank, according to a statement by the Water Resources Department. Most of the affected houses were kuchcha structures, while around 10 pucca houses developed cracks, prompting the evacuation of residents as a precautionary measure, the statement said. The department deployed 15 teams of engineers in shifts, in addition to an assistant engineer and four junior engineers already stationed at the site, officials said.
The Ganga’s water level in Bhagalpur was below the warning mark and had fallen by around 12 cm in the preceding 12 hours, the department statement said. However, the river current had shifted towards the left bank and remained strong, sustaining the risk of undermining and further erosion, it said, adding that the situation was expected to improve over the next 24 hours. We are making regular announcements so that people do not go to dangerous or unsafe areas. For easy movement, we are also providing some support for traffic so that people can easily move from here,” Naugachhia SP Vaibhav Sharma said.
“Anti-erosion work is being done in nearby areas that were not affected directly.
“A special team comprising a superintendent engineer, an executive engineer and an assistant engineer was also deputed on Saturday,” the statement said.
