Nitish reviews flood situation in Bihar

With flood waters engulfing several villages and also affecting train services in the Kosi region, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today held a review meeting on the flood situation and directed officials to provide prompt relief to people.
Kumar took stock of water level of several rivers and safety of embankments on the basis of photographs provided by satellite and maps of rivers, an official statement said here.
The CM directed Principal Secretaries of Water Resources and Disaster Management to make an aerial survey of flood situation in the Kosi region along with engineers to have a close look at the conditions.

He directed officials to make prompt arrangements of boats, erect camps and provide other necessary assistance to the flood-hit people, the statement said.
Water Resources minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan, Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, Water Resources department Principal Secretary Arun Kumar Singh, his counterpart in Disaster Management department Vyasji and Chief Minister's Secretary Atish Chandra were present at the meeting.
After the meeting, Vyasji told reporters that excessive water in the rivers in Nepal due to rains has flooded many villages in Araria, Kisanganj, Supual and Purnea districts of the Kosi region.
Nearly two lakh people have been affected by floods in the region, he said adding, relief camps have been set up in these areas and help of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) was sought.

Train services on the Saharsa-Mansi section under Samastipur Division of the East Central Railway zone have been affected due to flood waters drowning the railway tracks, ECR officials said.