By IANS,
Patna : The National Disaster Management Force Friday joined in the rescue operations in Bihar’s flood affected districts, where army personnel and air force helicopters are already engaged in providing relief, officials said.
About one million people have been affected by the floods in the state, which have claimed over 30 lives so far. The situation worsened Friday in Supaul and Araria districts after Nepal discharged 65,000 cusecs of water from the breached Kosi embankment.
“Road and rail traffic in Supaul and Araria has been disrupted by the floods,” an official said.
Officials in the state disaster management department said that 100 personnel of the National Disaster Management Force had joined the rescue operations.
On Thursday, Indian Air Force (IAF) dropped relief materials, including food packets, in Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura and Araria districts.
“The air dropping of relief materials began a day after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took a decision to enlist the help of the army and air force following an aerial survey of the flood-hit districts Wednesday,” the official said.
Kumar reviewed the flood situation with top officials again late Thursday and asked Minister of state for Diasater Management Nitish Mishra, Water Resources Department Minister Vijendra Yadav, and Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Narayan Yadav to camp in Araria, Supaul and Madhepura to take stock of the situation.
“Kumar also directed officials to evacuate the flood affected people to safer areas,” an official said.
The government has also deputed two Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, two officer of the rank of additional district magistrate and three deputy superintendents of police to oversee the relief and rescue operations.
Officials said that the flood situation is grim in over 900 villages in 12 districts – Muzaffarapur, Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura, Katihar, Araria, West Champaran, Khagaria, Sitamarhi, Patna and Nalanda.
Major rivers, including the Ganga, Punpun, Ghaghra, Burhigandak, Bagmati, Kosi and Mahananda, were flowing above the danger mark at several places.