5 million hit by floods in Bihar

Thirty-four persons have lost their lives in floods, which have affected over five million people in Bihar.
They have damaged several dams and affected nearly 2,000 villages in the northern parts of the State. Most of the deaths were reported from Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur and Seohar districts.

According to the Central Water Commission, the water level in major rivers - Ganga, Sone, Punpun, Ghaghra, Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Bagmati, Kamla Balan, Kosi, Mahananda and Adhwara - continue to rise.
Flood waters have destroyed crops in thousands of acres and inundated roads in several places. An alert has been sounded and the army has been called in for relief and rescue operations.

BIHAR AND UP FLOODS

World Vision provided timely and immediate relief to those affected by the recent floods in UP and Bihar by distributing seven-day ration packs to more than 11000 families. World Vision also distributed Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and Halozone tablets and bleaching powder to prevent the spread of disease.

In Bihar, World Vision's relief including food and non-food items have reached another 4000 families, bringing the number of flood-affected families being helped by the organization in the month of August and September to 24,555.

World Vision continues to work with the government in the flood-affected areas, mobilising relief to the vulnerable sections of the population.

Floods in Bihar claim 42 lives, millions displaced

New Delhi Aug 27: The worsening flood in Bihar has left almost half of the state under water with 15 of the 38 districts devastated. Described as one of the worst in recent years, the flood has claimed 42 lives and left nearly 25 lakh people homeless.
Standing crops spread over 36,000 hectares have been completely destroyed. After the river Kosi breached its embankment in Nepal, it has flooded large areas in North Bihar
Muzaffarpur, Patna, Katihar, Nalanda, West Champaran are among the most severely affected districts.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who has appealed for more help from the Centre is expected to meet Prime Minister later on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, in an emotional address on local radio, the chief minister said this was not a normal flood but a catastrophe.
Torrential rains, since last week, caused the Kosi river in neighbouring Nepal to burst its banks causing large-scale devastation.
Though there has not been much rain in the flood-hit areas over the last few days, the problem has been aggravated by the Kosi river changing its course.

Rs 1000 cr for flood-hit Bihar: PM

Describing the floods in Bihar as a ‘national calamity’, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday announced an immediate assistance of Rs 1,000 crore to the state for rescue and relief operations and 1.25 lakh tonnes of foodgrains to tide over the situation.
After undertaking an aerial survey along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi of the four worst affected districts in the state where the swollen Kosi river continued to wreak havoc, Singh also assured Bihar to provide all possible help to meet the situation
Singh and Gandhi arrived at the Purnia airbase by a special IAF plane from New Delhi and took off in an IAF chopper to undertake the aerial survey in Supaul, Saharsa, Araria and Madhepura districts, official sources said.
They were accompanied by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil as also several Union Ministers including Lalu Prasad, Ram Vilas Paswan and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Earlier, Kumar received Singh and Gandhi at the Purnia airbase and briefed them about the flood situation.
Altogether 55 persons have so far lost their lives in the current spell of floods in the state.
Over 25 lakh people in 15 districts have been hit by the impact of one of the worst floods in recent memory with victims from these four districts making up 19.78 lakh.
The Chief Minister who met the Prime Minister in New Delhi on Wednesday had sought Central assistance of Rs 1,000 crore and one lakh tonnes of foodgrain immediately for the affected people.

'Lalu Bhojanalayas'

Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav today said that he was leaving no stone unturned to combat the situation in Bihar which is reeling under the devastating floods, which, according to estimates, have so far marooned around 25 lakh people.
Describing it as a "tsunami", Lalu said that the exact estimate of loss of life and property would be made once the water recedes down.

Undeterred by Opposition's allegations, especially from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, that he was playing politics over floods, Lalu said: "I have opened five Bhojanalayas (food joints) at different places to feed the homeless people. Also the Indian Railways has erected one-kilometer long tents to give shelter to the people."
Announcing that the 14 lakh employees of the Indian Railways had agreed to deduct their one day's salary towards floods relief, he appealed to the media persons to donate their one day's salary for the sake of relief work in Bihar.
"Besides the one crore rupees which I had won the "Panchvi Pass" TV programme, I have donated my one day's salary towards the people of Bihar," he said while addressing media persons at Rail Bhawan.
Reacting to Opposition's charge that he was scoring political points over the ravaging floods in Bihar, he said the floods occurred due to the lapses on the part of the Bihar Government. He said that an official of the Floods Control Department had time and again warned the state government that the Kosi river was flowing at a great current and that there was a risk of a devastating floods, "but the Bihar Government remained in slumber and didn't take corrective measures before the tragedy hit the state.
"They (Bihar Government) are responsible for this devastation, and the people of Bihar are accusing them for the same," he added.
He further said that the exact number of people and cattle that have died in the ravaging floods would be known when flood water recede. "If they are accusing me of playing politics, I must make it clear that the real politics would be there when the bodily remains of the dead would be found," he said.
Lalu said that hordes of people were fleeing the affected part of his state to other places like Punjab, Surat and Delhi.

Army steps up rescue work in flood-hit Bihar

NEW DELHI: Two Indian Air Force transport squadrons based in Chandigarh are actively involved in providing succour to flood-hit Bihar, having airlifted 200 tonnes of relief material in round-the-clock operations. "A total of about 200 tonnes of relief material has been airlifted from Delhi, Amritsar and Chandigarh till now. They include potable water, boats, medicines along with army personnel to help those affected by the floods," a defence spokesman said. He said regular sorties were being carried out, transporting men and material to Patna, Purnea, Bihta and adjoining airfields in Bihar. Meanwhile, to intensify the ongoing rescue work in Bihar's flood-affected areas, the Army on Monday rushed 16 additional columns of men to join relief efforts, even as Central Army Commander Lt Gen H S Panag is supervising the operations.

Help for Bihar From Big Hands

Steel giant ArcelorMittal has offered help to the Nitish Kumar government to tackle the devastation caused by the Kosi. Officials of the company have decided to supply relief materials for flood victims through the department of disaster management in Bihar. They are of the view that experts in disaster management can best perform in a crisis situation. After discussions with officials engaged in catastrophe management in Bihar, the company has procured certain necessary items like inflatable rafts from the US to give a fillip to rescue operations. A communiqué from ArcelorMittal confirmed that necessary steps are being taken to ensure that the relief materials reach the flood-hit areas in time. It also said that the company in partnership with several agencies will provide relief materials to the victims.