Hundred and twenty three people have lost their lives and nearly 20 million affected as one of the worst floods in Bihar in a decade showed no signs of abating on Monday .

The situation in the worst affected 17 districts remained grim. An alarming rise in water level due to heavy rains inundated fresh areas in Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Katihar, Samastipur and Khagaria districts.

A spokesman of the Disaster Management Department told rediff.com that over 1.25 crore people have been reeling under the impact of the floods. While officials peg the death toll at just 69, ten more deaths on Sunday pushed the unofficial toll to 123.

The Central Water Commission said Bagmati, Burhi Gandak, Kamla Balan, Adhwara, Kosi and Mahananda rivers are flowing above the red mark at various places, while the Ganga crossed the danger mark for the first time at Farakka.

The floods forced the state government to shift prisoners of Naugachaia and Rosera sub-jails in Samastipur and Bhagalpur district to other jails.

Earlier the prisoners of Khagaria jail were shifted to Bhagalpur. Last week 30 prisoners escaped from Darbhanga jail taking advantage of floods.

East Central Railway said that the movement of trains in the Muzaffarpur and Samastipur sections was stopped after the flood water submerged railway tracks at various places.