33 Bihar districts declared drought hit

Thirty-three of the 38 districts of Bihar have been declared drought hit, an official said Wednesday.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting here following poor rainfall, the principal secretary of the disaster management department told the media.

Vayasji said paddy plantation was badly affected in these districts, which include Patna, Gaya, Bhojpur, Nalanda, Jehanabad and Kaimur.

Last month, the opposition had demanded that 24 districts be declared drought affected.

Reports received here say that unlike in the past, there is no water for irrigation in the canals. A large part of central Bihar is irrigated by water from the Sone river brought through canals.

Even the water table in parts of central and south Bihar has depleted to alarming levels due to poor monsoon.