The overall flood situation in Bihar remained grim on Monday with major rivers in spate.

Around 1.5 million people were affected by the deluge in 11 north Bihar districts where floods have claimed 52 lives so far, the official sources said.

“There is no let up in the overall situation which continues to be grim,” the state water resources department sources said.

The Central Water Commission (CWC) sources said that rivers such as Kosi, Bagmati, Mahananda, Kamala Balan and Adhwara group of rivers were in spate following heavy rains in their catchment areas.

Relief distribution in some of the flood-hit areas was suspended because of model code for polls coming into force in the light of the by-elections in 18 Assembly constituencies in Bihar, state disaster management department sources said.

The 11 districts affected by floods are West Champaran, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Purnia, Saharsa, Supaul, Kishanganj, Gopalganj and Katihar, the sources said.

Standing crops in vast areas and houses worth several crores of rupees have been destroyed in the floods.

“All the embankments in Bihar are safe and flood-fighting continues at places where the rivers are putting pressure on their embankments,” the state water resources department sources claimed.