Number of flood-affected districts in Bihar touches 13, no fresh deaths reported

Flood waters entered Bihar's West Champaran taking the total number of deluge-hit districts in the state to 13 on Thursday, but with no fresh deaths reported, the toll remained unchanged at 123, officials said.

West Champaran was inundated following torrential rains in the past few days, they said.

The state disaster management department said 82.12 lakh people under 1,241 panchayats of 106 blocks in the 13 districts have been affected by the flood, and relief and rehabilitation work is going on in full swing.

More than half of the 123 casualties have been reported from Sitamarhi (37) and Madhubani (30) districts.

An ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh has been provided to the next of the kin of each deceased while every family surviving the calamity is being given Rs 6,000 through direct benefit transfer.

Several parts of the state have been inundated for more than two weeks on account of flash floods that occurred following torrential rains in neighbouring Nepal.

Water levels have, however, started receding in most of the flood-hit areas leading to a drop in the number of relief camps and people taking shelter in those. Food for flood-affected people is being prepared at 856 community kitchens spread across the 13 districts.

The number of relief camps, which had soared above 130 a week ago, has come down to 21 and the number of people staying there now stands at 11,900 -- a steep drop from more than one lakh last week, the state disaster management department said.

It, however, said the situation in West Champaran has so far not warranted any relief camp in the district.

Altogether 133 boats have been deployed by the state government for distribution of relief material, medicines and 876 personnel pressed into service for the purpose.

The relief and rehabilitation work is being carried out with assistance of 19 teams of the NDRF which is running its own 'river ambulances' and helping the civil administration in rescue operations as well as distribution of essential items.

The Indian Air Force has deployed two helicopters which are engaged airdropping food packets and relief material, a defence release said.