Food riots hit Darbhanga

Food riots broke out in Darbhanga district today as the state grapples with the worsening flood situation that has already claimed at least 51. Residents in the worst-hit district looted relief material from government godowns as food became scarce. Angry mobs broke down the shutters of two government godowns in the Collectorate Campus in Darbhanga and looted foodgrains, edible oil, salt and other commodities. The local business community has started keeping a vigil at the Bazaar Samiti to thwart such attempts.

A delegation of the District Chamber of Commerce, led by its president Pawan Sureka, had yesterday met Darbhanga DM Pradeep Kumar, complaining about loot of foodgrains and other items worth around Rs 80 lakh. The death toll is likely to mount further with around 30 people feared dead in a boat capsize on the Bagmati river near Rampurhari village off the Sitamarhi-Muzaffarpur Road. No bodies were found.