2 Children Killed After Temple Wall Collapses in Bihar's Saran

Patna: At least two children were killed and one another was injured after a boundary wall of Kathia Baba temple collapsed in Bihar 's Rupganj on Thursday. The wall fell on the children when three children who were bathing in flood waters near the temple.

“As per the information received, the boundary wall of Kathia Baba temple located at Rupganj Adda No. 2 under the city Police Station of Saran district collapsed and fell on three children who were bathing in flood water near the boundary wall. Due to this, two children died and one girl is reportedly undergoing treatment in Sadar Hospital, Chhapra. Action is being taken to remove the debris of the fallen boundary wall with JCB. Force has been deputed to maintain law and order at the said place. Senior officers are camping at the incident site. The law and order situation is normal,” Saran Police informed.

Bihar inundated after heavy rainfall 

Low-lying areas in rural Patna and Nalanda were inundated on Thursday after the rising waters of the Falgu and Sakri rivers breached several small dams, officials said. The two rivers were in spate following heavy rains in neighbouring Jharkhand over the last few days, they said.

Among the affected areas were Pandarak and Fatuha blocks in Patna, and Hilsa block in Nalanda, they added.

"Portions of Baruane Zamindari Dam located on the left bank of Dhanayan river in Pandarak block and Sirpatpur dam got damaged last night because of the discharge of 53,945 cusec of water from Sakri and Falgu rivers from Uderasthan dam causing a flood-like situation in low-lying areas of Pandarak and Fatuha blocks in Patna district," said a statement issued by the Water Resources Department.

"Similarly, two small dams in Hilsa block, which were in a very dilapidated condition, of Nalanda district were damaged causing a flood-like situation in several areas of Jamuar and Dhuri Bigha villages," it said.

No causality was reported, and villagers of the affected areas were being moved to safer places, it added. Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary told PTI that the situation was under control.

"Necessary items have already been brought for the immediate repair of the damaged small dams, which were not constructed by the Water Resources Department. Besides, teams of senior WRD officials are already there for immediate repair and rescue measures," he said.

Patna's District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh said it was due to the breach of small dams, also known as zamindari dams, which were constructed by local authorities, water entered certain low-lying areas.

"The situation is completely under control and officials concerned took immediate action. Flood control materials such as sandbags and bamboo were taken to the site on boats. The repair work is on," he told.

With inputs from PTI