Rajnath assures full assistance to Bihar to counter Kosi floods

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has assured all help and assistance to the Government of Bihar to counter the threat of floods looming large along the Kosi belt near the Bihar-Nepal border.

Singh telephoned Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and took stock of the situation in the state in the wake of threat of floods in Bihar.

Singh informed the Chief Minister that the NDRF teams have already been dispatched to the areas where the Kosi River is pushing towards the danger mark.

A huge evacuation drive has been launched in eight districts of Bihar and the state government has been put on high alert due to the Kosi flood threat.

Bihar Government has started taking action for evacuation of persons living in villages lying within the embankment area in 22 panchayats of Supaul district and other seven districts of the state.

Relief camps including cattle relief camps are being organised for the evacuated families.

The Prime Minister has directed that all possible help should be provided to the affected areas. 8 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 4 teams of the State Disaster Response Force have been pressed into service.

An additional seven teams of the NDRF are being mobilized from neighboring state of West Bengal.

As per information received from the Nepalese Authorities, the flow of the river Sunkoshi/Bhotekoshi in Mangkha Village Development Committee area in Sindhupalchowk District has been blocked on account of landslide.

The formation of a large water body can create a potential danger of inundation in areas downstream of the Kosi barrage which is about 270 Kms from location of the blockage.