BETTIAH, Aug. 18 -- Close on the heels of rendering about 150 people homeless, the turbulent Gandak river on Monday engulfed a portion of a government school in Chiurahi panchayat of Bihar's West Champaran district, as frequent erosion exposed over 40 more families to the threat of displacement. Madhubani circle officer Nandlal Nandlal Ram said about 20% of the school called Rajkiya Prathamik Vidyalaya at Udarahi Chiurahi village in Chiurahi panchayat in Madhubani block has already been engulfed by the erosion caused by the Gandak. "We have a hunch that the school building may not be protected as the flooding fighting work began 100 metres ahead of the school and yet it engulfed parts of the school. Now, a building belonging to MNREGA is being used to conduct the classes," said the circle officer. CO Ram said with the Gandak river continuing to eat away five-metres at its banks everyday and surging towards village side, over 40 more families in Chiurahi panchayat stand threatened to be affected. "Around 40 families have already been affected by the erosion at Narhwa village under Sisayi panchayat and they have been shifted to safer locations, while another 40 families are facing the similar threat at Udarahi Chiurahi and Rewahiya village," he said, adding the area has a PACS godown as well. However, the villagers put the number of families to be affected further at over 100. HT spoke to some of the families dwelling at Rewahiya village and came across stories of woes and worries. The worst dismay of 35-year-old Meraj Ansari, a resident, came true as villagers woke up early Monday to find a portion of Rajkiya Prathamik Vidyalaya already engulfed by the Gandak river at Udarahi Chiurahi village in Chiurahi panchayat in Madhubani block of West Champaran. Meraj and other villagers were jolted out of sleep after part of the school collapsed fell into the river with a thud. "It took no time for us to understand what had happened. And with our village barely a stone's throw away, it has left none in doubt what will happen to us," said Ansari, echoing the worst fear of households at Rewahiya. Residents of Rewahiya village have now begun dismantling their houses, salvaging whatever they can before the river claims the structures. "Considering the gravity of the situation, the chief engineer of the water resources department visited the spot on Monday and discussed with his team the efforts needed for fortification to curb further erosion," said Amrendra Kumar, additional district magistrate (ADM), disaster management....