Flood situation remains grim in Bihar, eases in MP

The flood situation in Bihar remained grim on Thursday, though the river Ganga and its tributaries started showing sign of receding but hundreds of thousands of affected people have been still strggling for survival, officials said. The situation, however, was easing in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.

More than three million people have been hit by the floods in Bihar. including thousands who have been displaced across the worst-hit 12 districts, the officials said.

According to state disaster management department officials, till date, floods have claimed 31 lives.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday met flood victims during his visit to the affected areas in Patna district and assured all possible help, including timely relief.

Nitish Kumar also directed concerned officials to provide adequate relief and other facilities at relief camps set up by the government.

"Chief Minister has ordered to intensify relief and rescue operations in flood affected areas and to serve food in steel utensils provided from the CM's relief fund," an official said.

However, at several places, flood victims have staged protests and blocked roads to express anger and impatience over the quality and quantity of government aid that has so far been provided to them.

Flood victims, hungry and homeless, many of them forced to live under open sky, have also expressed anger for not providing fodder for their cattle.

About 900 officils of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the flood-hit districts.

Meanwhile, RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Thursday defended his remark on Ganga reaching the doorsteps of the people, saying his statement should be taken in the right spirit.

Lalu Prasad also blamed the BJP-led governments in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand for the mess.

In Madhya Pradesh, the monsoon rains are letting up, easing the flood situation prevailing in many districts, officials said on Thursday.

People in many relief camps have started to return home, they said.

Satna District Commissioner Naresh Pal said the flood situation has abated in the district and people staying in relief camps are returning home.

The worst also seems to be over in Rewa and Panna districts, where normalcy is returning fast. Floodwaters have receded from the roads allowing normal movement of traffic.

According to official statistics, floods caused by heavy rains affected 3,79,542 people in Madhya Pradesh across 31 of its 51 districts. The disaster claimed the lives of 102 people in the state and injured 15 people. Seven people are untraceable.

The floods and flood-related events destroyed 2,638 houses, and partially damaged 38,641. The state government set up 135 relief camps to shelter the displaced.

There has also been widespread damage to agriculture, roads and other infrastructure, and death of farm animals.

The government has to call in the army and requisition helicopters to aid in rescue operations.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi monitored the flood situation in the state and discussed the possible central aid by interacting with the top state officials through video conferencing.

--IANS

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