Patil to send teams to assess damage in Assam, Bihar

The Centre will despatch teams of ministers to Assam and Bihar to assess the loss caused by floods, that have affected nearly 1.5 crore people. This was announced by Home Minister Shivraj Patil in separate statements in the Lok Sabha today.The teams are likely to visit flood-affected areas immediately after water recedes. While Bihar has been allocated Rs 81.80 crore from the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) — including Rs 61.45 crore as Centre’s contribution — Assam will get Rs 116.68 crore for relief operations. Patil stated that 94.36 lakh people had been hit in Bihar. A total of 8.418 lakh-hectare crop area had suffered damage. In Assam, 50 lakh people were affected and an estimated 4.68 lakh-hectare crop area damaged.