PATNA: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has provided Rs 656 crore financial assistance to Bihar in the wake of devastating flood that has affected millions of residents of several districts.
The ministry in totality has released Rs 5,858 crore from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and an advance from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for 14 flood-affected states as Centre’s share, informed the MHA in an official statement released on Tuesday, October 1.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and guidance of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah, the Modi government stands shoulder to shoulder with the states affected by natural calamities in mitigating the hardship faced by the people,” it added.
In addition to this, an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) will soon visit the affected areas of Bihar for making an on the spot assessment of the damages caused by the flood water, which has affected millions of residents of low laying areas of several district in the state.
The announcement was made amidst the Disaster Management Department (DMD), Bihar in an updated release on Monday, September 30 informed that around one million populations of 16 districts remained affected by the floods triggered by the incessant rains in catchment areas of Nepal.
According to the release by the DMD, Bihar, 7 embankments in 4 districts have been damaged by the flood water, forcing over 54000 people to take shelter in 71 relief camps being operated by the state government. Around over 125 community kitchens have also been setup and are being operated by the government.
A total of 15 teams of National Disaster Response Force and another 15 of State Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the affected areas to rescue the civilians while 6 additional teams of NDRF are called from Varanasi and Ranchi, added the release.
सीतामढ़ी व दरभंगा जिले के अत्यंत बाढ़ प्रभावित क्षेत्रों में, जहां आवागमन की सहज सुविधा उपलब्ध नहीं है, हेलीकॉप्टर के माध्यम से सूखा राशन गिराया गया. आपदा प्रबंधन विभाग आपदा काल में त्वरित राहत पहुंचाने हेतु प्रतिबद्ध है.@IPRDBihar
@BsdmaBihar#BiharDisasterManagementDept pic.twitter.com/yRLZPGI9fQ— Disaster Management Dept., Govt of Bihar (@BiharDMD) October 1, 2024
Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar on Tuesday conducted an aerial survey of the flood affected areas and instructed the officials to carry out the relief and rescue operations on a war footing. He further has instructed the officials to airdrop food packets and other relief materials with the help of Air Force.
Taking to the social media platform X, the CM informed “Today, I took stock of the flood-affected areas of Kosi, Gandak and Ganga rivers by conducting an aerial survey. I have instructed to carry out relief and rescue operations on a war footing. I have asked the administration to remain fully alert and keep monitoring so that people do not face any problems.”
आज कोशी, गंडक एवं गंगा नदी के बाढ़ प्रभावित क्षेत्रों का हवाई सर्वेक्षण कर जायजा लिया। बाढ़ प्रभावित इलाकों में राहत एवं बचाव कार्य युद्धस्तर पर चलाने का निर्देश दिया। प्रशासन को पूरी तरह मुस्तैद रहने और लगातार मॉनिटरिंग करते रहने को कहा है ताकि लोगों को कोई दिक्कत नहीं हो। साथ… pic.twitter.com/Q88b757QIS
— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) October 1, 2024
“I have also instructed to airdrop food packets and relief material to the affected families with the help of Air Force in those flood-affected areas where there is difficulty in delivering materials,” added the CM.
Notably, the administration has been working on a war footing to provide relief materials in the affected areas, rescuing civilians along with providing them with food, medicines and other essential materials. Further, services of Air Force are also being utilise to provide relief materials in badly affected areas, such as in pockets of Darbhanga and Sitamarhi districts, where the flood waters have caused extensive damages.
Over a dozen districts including West and East Champaran, Araria, Kishanganj, Gopalganj, Sheohar, Saran, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Siwan, Purnea, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Madhepura, Sitamarhi, and Supaul have been badly affected by rise in water levels of prominent rivers such as Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati etc. following torrential rains in catchment areas of Nepal in the last week of September causing devastating floods in low laying areas.
