PM, Sonia to visit flood-hit Bihar

Patna, Aug 28: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil are scheduled to make an aerial survey of the affected areas in Bihar Thursday, where the overall flood situation has worsened further, official sources said here today.

Following multiple breaches in the Kosi ...

The flood had already wreaked havoc in large areas in 12 districts and claimed more than 50 lives so far, besides damaging standing crops worth several hundred crores of rupees, official sources said.

They added that a major Central assistance to deal with the disaster is also expected to be announced by the Prime Minister after the visit.

Ahead of his visit, State Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met the PM on Wednesday in New Delhi and sought central assistance of Rs 1000 crore and one lakh tones of foodgrains immediately for the affected people.

Earlier, Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav sought assistance from the Central Government for Bihar that has been badly hit by floods. He sought assistance by way of Air Force helicopters to be pressed into the service.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers and Steel Ram Vilas Paswan accused the Bihar Government of “failing to handle the flood situation” in the State, and charged it with failing to repair river embankments despite warning.

He said the Nitish Kumar government has failed to handle the situation and lakhs of people are suffering but the government is doing nothing to help them.

Paswan blamed the Nitish Kumar Government for the present situation in the flood affected areas, and said that the State Government has failed to take any precautionary measures.

With the Kosi River continuing to unleash its fury in Bihar districts bordering Nepal, over 20 lakh people are bearing the brunt of floods.

The Army was called out to help the marooned people.

According to the Central Water Commission, the Kosi, Ganga, Ghaghra, Punpun and Burhi Gandak were flowing above the danger level at several places along their course.

The flood have affected 15 districts - Muzaffarpur, Patna, Katihar, Nalanda, West Champaran, Khagaria Sheikhpura, Purnia, Saran, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura and Araria.