Flood claims 25 lives in north Bihar, inundates new areas
Patna, Aug 24 : With the death of one more person in Madhepura, the toll in the
ongoing floods in north Bihar rose to 25 today.
In addition, standing crops in several thousand acres of land worth more than Rs
100 crore had been damaged, official sources here said.
As flood water of the mighty river Kosi continued to create havoc in three north
Bihar districts of Saupoul, Araria and Madhepura, the overall situation in most of the
affected districts continued to remain grim.
The sources quoted the Flood Control Division as saying that following the breach
in a number of embankments of several major rivers including the Kosi, Mahananda, Gandak
and the Ganges in different areas, large human habitation under Kumarkhand, Shankarpur,
Murliganj, Udakishanganj, Bihariganj, Chousa, Alamnagar, Uraini and Sinheshwar blocks had
been submerged besides rendering more than two million people homeless.
However, all out efforts were being made to provide relief to the flood-affected
people as well as to those who had taken shelter in high lands.
Altogether 27 relief camps were opened in the flood-affected areas to provide
shelter to the homeless.
Three IAF helicopters also continued airdropping of food packets to the most
affected regions.
More than 200 countrymade boats had also been deployed ensure succour to the
marooned people, the sources added.
Meanwhile, an 80-member disaster management team from neighbouring Orissa had
reached the flood-affected districts to assist in the relief operations.
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