New areas flooded, special trains start evacuation

To monitor the flood situation and relief work, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday set up a committee comprising members from all parties. The state Government might also seek financial assistance from other states if required, the CM told representatives of all political parties.

With newer areas getting flooded, the Kosi, which has been flowing through a new course for the past couple of weeks, has finally met its old course at Khursaila in Katihar, 325 km from the breach point at Kushaha in Nepal.

While there are complaints of food packets not reaching the relief camps, there are also reports of private boatmen charging exorbitant rates — from Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000 per trip — from flood victims. The state Government has, therefore, decided to rein in private boats at worst-hit areas of Supaul, Madhepura and Araria.

However, the 685 government boats pressed into service are proving inadequate in ferrying people to safety.

Additional commissioner (disaster management) Pratyay Amrit told The Indian Express: “We have rescued over 2.5 lakh people, but we need more boats to evacuate more people.” Over 22 lakh people of 585 villages of 25 blocks are flood-hit. Over 18 lakh affected people are from Sapaul and Madhepura alone.

Amrit said Rupauli, Barahkothi and Jankinagar blocks, too, have been flooded. “Now that the river has met Ganga at Katihar, let us pray the flood subsides,” said the additional commissioner (disaster management).