Date:13/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/13/stories/2007081353820100.htm

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Breach on National Highway cuts off North-East

Special Correspondent

One killed as police lathi-charge relief-seekers in Saharsa district of Bihar

— Photo: PTI

Diehard readers: Two women read newspapers at a raised platform in flood-effected area of Khagaria district in Bihar on Sunday.

PATNA: One person was killed in a police lathi-charge on relief seekers in Saharsa district on Sunday, even as a breach on National Highway 31 in Khagaria disconnected the entire-north east from most parts of the country.

The police lathi-charged those who had gathered at the Sonbarsa block office to collect relief materials. The officer-in-charge of the police station concerned has been suspended.

With the turbulent Kosi breaking open a crack in the highway, the Khagaria district authorities have suspended movement of vehicles.

The highway is under two feet of water.

Movement of trucks from the north-east carrying cash crop has been affected. Truck loads of cash crops like pineapple are stranded unable to cross through Bihar to other parts of the country particularly the national Capital.

Swept away

Five women were swept away while taking bath in the swollen Ganga River in Begusarai. Three bodies were recovered.

Protesting the poor relief operation, the State unit of the CPI has decided to hold protest rallies at the block level on August 21 and at the district level on September 1.

BJP president Rajnath Singh and Janata Dal (U) president Sharad Yadav undertook a joint aerial survey of four flood-affected districts and sought the cooperation of all political parties, eschewing differences, in providing relief to the distressed masses.

They urged the Centre to send a team to assess the damage and provide a special package to cope with the situation.

Killing condemned

The two leaders condemned the killing of Hindi-speaking people belonging to Bihar in Assam demanded that the Centre take stern measures to put down such incidents with an iron hand. Such acts threatened the unity and integrity of the country, they said.

The NDA has decided to send a parliamentary committee to take stock of the situation there.