Patna: The flood in Bihar claimed four more lives on July 13 as rivers continued to swell along their courses after heavy rains in the catchment areas.

Official sources said that with reports of four fresh deaths - two at Gopalganj and one each at Darbhanga and Araria districts - the death toll rose to 21.

As all major rivers engulfed vast areas in North Bihar, over 10 lakh people stood affected and standing crops worth several crores of Rupees were destroyed.

An official report from Gopalganj said that the Principal of the polytechnic college, Sepaya, Fazle Sawar, was forced to close the institution as swelling waters of Gandak, which claimed two lives in the district, entered the college premises. Important documents were shifted.

A Darbhanga report said that the rivers like Bagmati, Kareh and Adhwara group of rivers flowing above danger marks at different places entered the market areas of Kushehwarstan, Jale and Hanumanganj blocks of the district, badly affecting 15 panchayats of the district.

An Araria report said that one person drowned as the flood waters entered several blocks of the district.

According to a Central Water Commission communique, major rivers, including Ganga, Kosi, Gandak, Bgamati, Burhi Gandak, Sone and Adhwara group of rivers, were in spate and likely to cross the red mark at several places with forecast of heavy rains in their catchment areas.

PTI