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Bihar: Toll in Phailin-related incidents mounts to 14

October 15, 2013 21:37 IST

Four persons have died in Bihar since Monday in rain-related incidents due to the 'peripheral effect' of Cyclone Phailin, taking the death toll in the state to 14.

Three persons died in Vaishali district and one in Madhubani district since Monday due to wall collapse and falling of trees, Disaster Management department Principal Secretary Vyas Ji said.

Reports from various other districts, however, put the death toll at 14. While four deaths were reported from Vaishali, the districts of Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Madhubani and Buxar claimed two deaths each.

These deaths were caused by drowning due to capsizing of a country boat in the Ganga in Bhagalpur, falling of trees and walls, the sources said. Meanwhile, Cyclone Phailin has triggered heavy rains in the state in the last two days averaging 125.3 mm with Bhojpur, Siwan and Patna districts experiencing the heaviest rainfall.

However, there was a let up in rainfall since this morning. According to Met office, the rain bearing clouds have moved to neighbouring Nepal, Vyas Ji told PTI.

He said the weather forecast has warned of rainfall particularly in the areas near Gandak and Kosi rivers today. Director Meteorology R K Giri said the state witnessed heavy rainfall in the last two days due to the cyclone. The state saw 125.3 mm rain on an average during the past two days in place of a normal rainfall of 3.2 mm at this time of the season.

As a result, water level in almost all the rivers in the state rose with Bagmati and Punpun crossing the danger mark. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held a review meeting on the weather condition in the state yesterday in the wake of the cyclone.

Photograph: Reuters

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