09-02-2008, 03:15 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Flood situation eases in Bihar </b>
pioneer.com
PTI | Patna
Posted online: Sep. 01, 2008
The flood situation in Bihar on Monday showed signs of improvement with the water level receding in five north-eastern districts following reduction in discharge in the Kosi river. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said over five lakh marooned people have been evacuated so far.
"Over five lakh marooned people have been evacuated so far and the rest, too, would be shifted to relief camps and safe shelters in the next three days," Kumar said after a meeting with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) team led by its vice-chairman General NC Vij.
Later, addressing a Press conference along with several top state officials, principal secretary of the state's disaster management department RK Singh claimed over 5.5 lakh marooned people had already been evacuated and the rest about 1.5 lakh would be rescued over in three days' time.
He said 15 Army columns with 150 motorboats and around 1,700 personnel and three columns of the Navy with 45 boats and 135 men as also 395 jawans of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) with 137 boats were assisting the state police machinery in the relief and rescue efforts.
Ten more Army columns with 1,120 men and 100 boats were on their way.
Three more helicopters would join the nine IAF choppers tomorrow for airdropping relief, while two Cheetah helicopters would be pressed into service to spot those still marooned.
"Instructions have been issued to district authorities to evacuate even those who are reluctant to leave their homes fearing theft of assets and property," Singh said
The state administration had pressed into service 28,000 troops of district armed police and special auxiliary police jawans to guard the properties left behind by the victims. Additional motorboats had been made available to the police for patrolling the areas even during the night following reports of burglary and loot by local hooligans, Singh said.
All private boats have been confiscated by the local administration in the wake of reports of extortion by the boatmen controlled by local toughs and were being used by the administration for relief and rescue, he said.
Stating that 23.85 lakh people were affected by the deluge in Madhepura, Araria, Supaul, Saharsa And Purnia Districts, the disaster management department principal secretary said over 2.06 lakh people were taking shelter in the over 200 relief camps.
Mega camps equipped with proper toilets and health centre having operation theatres and labour rooms were coming up at several places in the five affected districts.
An action plan was being formulated by a team headed by state's development commissioner S Vijay Raghavan so that rebuilding and rehabilitation work could be started as soon as the water receded.
Keeping in mind the waste of foodpackets many of which fell into water during airdropping, Singh said new water-proof bags that would hold 25 kg of relief and float on water had been made available by the national disaster management authority.
He said that another around 9.11 lakh people were affected by the floods in Muzaffarpur, Patna, Katihar, Nalanda, West Champaran Khagaria, Sheikhpura, Saran, Begusarai, Bhagalpur and Vaishali districts.
Altogether 24 relief shelters, 105 health centres and 37 veterinary centres were functioning in these districts to provide succour to the people
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pioneer.com
PTI | Patna
Posted online: Sep. 01, 2008
The flood situation in Bihar on Monday showed signs of improvement with the water level receding in five north-eastern districts following reduction in discharge in the Kosi river. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said over five lakh marooned people have been evacuated so far.
"Over five lakh marooned people have been evacuated so far and the rest, too, would be shifted to relief camps and safe shelters in the next three days," Kumar said after a meeting with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) team led by its vice-chairman General NC Vij.
Later, addressing a Press conference along with several top state officials, principal secretary of the state's disaster management department RK Singh claimed over 5.5 lakh marooned people had already been evacuated and the rest about 1.5 lakh would be rescued over in three days' time.
He said 15 Army columns with 150 motorboats and around 1,700 personnel and three columns of the Navy with 45 boats and 135 men as also 395 jawans of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) with 137 boats were assisting the state police machinery in the relief and rescue efforts.
Ten more Army columns with 1,120 men and 100 boats were on their way.
Three more helicopters would join the nine IAF choppers tomorrow for airdropping relief, while two Cheetah helicopters would be pressed into service to spot those still marooned.
"Instructions have been issued to district authorities to evacuate even those who are reluctant to leave their homes fearing theft of assets and property," Singh said
The state administration had pressed into service 28,000 troops of district armed police and special auxiliary police jawans to guard the properties left behind by the victims. Additional motorboats had been made available to the police for patrolling the areas even during the night following reports of burglary and loot by local hooligans, Singh said.
All private boats have been confiscated by the local administration in the wake of reports of extortion by the boatmen controlled by local toughs and were being used by the administration for relief and rescue, he said.
Stating that 23.85 lakh people were affected by the deluge in Madhepura, Araria, Supaul, Saharsa And Purnia Districts, the disaster management department principal secretary said over 2.06 lakh people were taking shelter in the over 200 relief camps.
Mega camps equipped with proper toilets and health centre having operation theatres and labour rooms were coming up at several places in the five affected districts.
An action plan was being formulated by a team headed by state's development commissioner S Vijay Raghavan so that rebuilding and rehabilitation work could be started as soon as the water receded.
Keeping in mind the waste of foodpackets many of which fell into water during airdropping, Singh said new water-proof bags that would hold 25 kg of relief and float on water had been made available by the national disaster management authority.
He said that another around 9.11 lakh people were affected by the floods in Muzaffarpur, Patna, Katihar, Nalanda, West Champaran Khagaria, Sheikhpura, Saran, Begusarai, Bhagalpur and Vaishali districts.
Altogether 24 relief shelters, 105 health centres and 37 veterinary centres were functioning in these districts to provide succour to the people
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