Bhagalpur

A portion of an embankment along the Ganga breached in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district early Monday, triggering panic among residents, officials said.

The breach in the Kajikoraiya-Raghopur marginal embankment in Kharik Circle took place around 2.30 am due to erosion caused by rising water levels and the river's strong current, they said.

District Magistrate Alankrita Pandey is monitoring the situation, while the additional collector (disaster management), Naugachhia SDO, flood control department officials and engineers are camping at the site near Ward 12, Tola Shankarpur.

"Water is flowing towards Naugachhia following the erosion, while the flood control department’s technical team is carrying out protective work on a war footing. Resources and materials have been deployed to control the water flow and prevent further erosion," the district administration said in a statement.

The erosion site is located around 500 metres from Bihar Energy Minister Bulo Mandal's native village.

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The administration appealed to residents not to panic or pay heed to rumours, assuring them that all necessary measures were being taken to protect the embankment and ensure public safety.