MESSAGE BOARD
NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Bihar flood toll mounts to 70

The flood situation in Bihar remained grim on Tuesday with major rivers in spate while the death toll mounted to 70 with seven more deaths reported from Jehanabad and Sitamarhi.

Of the seven deaths, three were from Jehanabad and four from Sitamarhi, state Relief and Rehabilitation Department sources said.

Official sources said rivers Ganga, Burhi Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati and Punpun were in spate affecting about five million people spread over 2146 villages in 21 north and central Bihar districts.

The authorities have pressed in six army boats, two choppers and 1958 boats to evacuate marooned people and undertake relief operations in the flood affected districts.

In Jehanabad rivers Falgu, Dardha, Morhar, Baldaiya and Punpun receded after inundating vast areas on Sunday. While road communication between Jehanabad and Arwal had been cut off, traffic resumed on the Jehanabad-Gaya road on Tuesday.

The authorities have set up 269 relief centres, 370 health centres and 176 veterinary centres in the flood-hit areas to provide succour to the affected people.

The state government had distributed 79,605 quintals of foodgrains, 16305 metres of polythene sheet and 1499 quintals of readymade food packets, 66.50 quintals of salt and 15921 match-boxes among the flood-hit people.

Tell us what you think of this report