Bihar

New Delhi: Terming the flood situation in Bihar as a 'national calamity', Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today anounced a relief package of Rs 1000 crore as a part of the special relief measure to tackle the grim situation in the state. The Centre has also released 1.25 tones of food grains immediately for the affected people. The Prime Minister announced the relief package after undertaking an aerial survey of flood-hit areas of Bihar along-with Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

The Prime Minister also said that helicopters will be soon deployed to evacuate the people stranded in the flood. Also accompanied by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, Manmohan Singh undertook the aerial survey in Supaul, Saharsa, Araria and Madhepura district in an IAF chopper.

With the Kosi River continuing to unleash its fury in Bihar districts bordering Nepal, over 20 lakh people are bearing the brunt of floods. The Army was called out to help the marooned people. According to the Central Water Commission, the Kosi, Ganga, Ghaghra, Punpun and Burhi Gandak were flowing above the danger level at several places along their course. of Rs 1000 crore for Bihar The flood have affected 15 districts - Muzaffarpur, Patna, Katihar, Nalanda, West Champaran, Khagaria Sheikhpura, Purnia, Saran, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura and Araria. So far 55 persons have lost their lives in the current spell of floods in the state.