Bihar floods: Death toll mounts to 30, relief takes place on war-footing

PATNA: Relief and rescue operations were in full swing in Bihar, including the state capital, on Tuesday as people struggled to recover from the devastation wrought by torrential rain which has claimed close to 30 lives across the state and caused heavy damage to property.


Relief material was being distributed by NDRF and SDRF personnel who were reaching out to people marooned inside their homes, helping in relocation of those who so desired, and delivering packets of food, medicines and packaged drinking water to them.

On Tuesday, the government deployed IAF choppers to assist in relief and rescue operations. Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter dropped relief materials in the flood-affected areas of Rajendra Nagar in the state capital. Boats were also being used to rescue stranded residents from the area.

'Flood relief has become a huge scam in Bihar'

"Flood relief has become a huge scam in Bihar, including Begusarai. The district administration had purchased about 300 boats between 2011 and 2014. Only a score of these are in a workable condition," Union minister Giriraj Singh whose party is an alliance partner of the chief minister's JD(U) said.

'Inundation of streets will be reduced significantly by Wednesday'

Chief secretary Deepak Kumar has exuded confidence that inundation of streets will be reduced significantly by Wednesday as water would be flushed out with the help of heavy duty pumps brought here from Coal India's units in Chhattisgarh.

State building construction minister Ashok Chowdhury faced angry outbursts when he reached Kaushal Nagar a slum near the old Gardani Bagh area where residents complained that all relief and rehabilitation work seemed to be centred around posh localities.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 19 teams in 14 districts of Bihar. Five teams are operational at Patna, two are deployed at Bhagalpur and one team each at Buxar, Munger, Begusarai, Gopalganj, Kishanganj, Katihar, Khagaria, Madhubani, Supaul, Vaishali, Araria and Darbhanga.

Four big pumps for Bihar to speed up flood relief work

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday said that four big pumps were being brought to Bihar to remove floodwater and accelerate relief work.

"I have cancelled my plans back at Delhi and will stay here for few more days. To speed up the relief work, I have asked for four big pumps that will reach here till afternoon. The pumps are of 2-3 tonnes and are very efficient," Prasad said while speaking to media here.

NCMC reviews situation

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), headed by Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, met here on Tuesday to review the prevailing flood situation in Bihar and directed that immediate assistance be provided to meet the crisis.

The NCMC has been informed that action to evacuate and rescue people and livestock has been taken by the state government machinery, in which all assistance have been rendered by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other Central agencies.

October 2 programmes postponed

All the programmes to mark the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, including the cultural programme, have been cancelled, officials said on Tuesday.

The education department has deferred functions in schools on October 2 in view of the water logging and flood. As per the earlier notification, all schools were ordered to remain open on October 2 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.