Muzaffarpur, Aug 3 (UNI) Large parts of this north Bihar town were inundated after a sudden breach in the embankment of the Burhi Gandak river this morning, rendering more than 200,000 people homeless.

District Magistrate Prahlad Thakur told UNI that as soon as water started gushing into the township, inundating several low lying areas, a number of country-made boats were pressed into service to rescue the marooned people.

Simultaneous efforts were also being made to plug the breaches and ferry people to safer places, Mr Thakur said. He said efforts would also be made to reach succour to the affected people on a top priority basis. So far about two thirds of the town had been flooded, he said.

He said there was no report of any death in the township since the breach occurred at around 12-00 noon. However, as many as 17 people had been swept away in the rising flood water in different parts of the district since the calamity hit the state about ten days ago.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who left Patna this morning for an aerial survey of the affected districts, is scheduled to arrive here later today for an on-the-spot review. He is also scheduled to hold meetings with top district officials regarding coordinated rescue operation and distribution of relief.

UNI