Army joins rescue work in Bihar

By K. Balchand

PATNA, SEPT. 9. The heavy downpour in Bihar has wrecked more havoc in most parts of the State, with the death toll crossing 50. The unofficial toll figure has been put at 66.

According to information reaching here, two persons were drowned in Saran district while five others lost their lives in Darbhanga district. The worst affected district is Gopalganj where more than 14 persons have been killed. The Army has joined rescue work in Gopalganj and Saran districts.

More columns of Army were rushed in from Gwalior on Saturday to cope up with the deteriorating situation in Saran district. At least three million people have been affected in 16 districts of the State.

The Chief Minister, Ms. Rabri Devi, along with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, made an aerial survey of the areas and have sought more help.

The rain has caused flooding in several district headquarters and isolated them from the State capital. Gopalganj and east Chanporan have been ravaged again, within a span of six weeks.

There has virtually been no respite to these districts, with the constant inflow into the Gandak at Valmikinagar. The Gandak sought out a new exit in the smaller rivers such as Daha and made Gopalganj its reservoir.

The State has witnessed more floods days after the Chief Minister and the RJD president submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, seeking a relief package worth Rs. 3262 crores, including Rs. 967 crores for floods. Though the Prime Minister had directed his officials to finalise the package last week, no word has emanated from Delhi as yet, while the fresh floods have inflicted more damage.

According to the memorandum 73 per cent of the State was flood- prone. Apart from demanding Rs. 695 crores for repairs of existing embankments, the Government also wanted the Centre to complete the construction of 809-km of embankments, which had been abandoned five years ago for want of resources. The cost estimated on this count was Rs. 619 crores.

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