Bihar floods death toll reaches 367

Patna, Aug 23 (IANS) The flood situation remained grim in Bihar as the death toll rose to 367 on Wednesday, an official said.

A Bihar Disaster Management Department official said 158.305 lakh persons in 2,313 panchayats under 185 blocks in 19 districts have been affected by the floods.

According to an official release, till date 7,76,357 people have been evacuated to safe places by the rescue teams of the Army, the National and the State Disaster Response Forces, while the government has set up 696 relief camps in which 1,67,528 people are living.

"For the flood victims, as many as 1,646 community kitchens have been set up," the official said.

Major rivers in spate have breached banks, inundated new areas and displaced thousands since last week, washing away hundreds of huts and damaging buildings, roads, bridges and standing crops worth crores of rupees, he said.

He said thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes after flood waters entered their villages and have taken shelter at high places including school buildings and embankments.