PATNA: At least 22 persons have been killed while 23.71 lakh people affected in the Bihar floods with many areas, specially the riverine belt of 12 districts badly reeling under water in the state.

The floods caused by a spate in rivers Ganga, Sone, Punpun, Burhi Gandak, Ghaghra and Kosi have affected 23.71 lakh people in 1115 villages under 362 panchayats in 12 districts of the state, a Disaster Management Department statement said.

Bhojpur district, which accounted for the maximum number of deaths, reported 12 deaths followed by Vaishali (6), Bhagalpur (2) and one each in Buxar and Lakhisarai district. Ganga was flowing above danger mark at seven places in various parts of four districts – Digha ghat, Gandhi ghat, Hathidah in Patna, Bhagalpur and Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district, Munger district and Buxar district. River Sone was flowing above danger level by 129 cm near Maner in Patna. The 12 flood-affected districts of the state are Buxar, Bhojpur, Patna, Vaishali, Saran, Begusarai, Samastipur, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Munger, Bhagalpur and Katihar, the statement said. The authorities concerned were making an estimation of the total affected areas due to floods and areas under cultivation. Besides, the assessment for crop damage was being made by the authorities, it said. A total of 1.55 lakh people have been evacuated so far, the release said adding, 179 relief camps were being run in the flood-hit areas, giving shelter to 1,07,000 people even as 160 medical teams were providing services. Besides, 49 camps were being run only for animals.–PTI