Centre assures all help to Bihar; rescue operation on

The Centre on Sunday rushed military, medical and rescue specialists to Bihar to deal with the flood situation in the Kosi belt as it kept a close watch on the developments in the state, where thousands have been evacuated to safety. 

Using the expertise of Department of Space, the Centre will also be getting satellite images from Monday onwards that would help in planning the future course of action.

The central and state administration are working round the clock to ensure that people are safe with the danger of flood looming large in the Kosi belt along the Bihar-Nepal border.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi over telephone on Sunday morning and assured him “every possible help and central assistance” to the state government. Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth held four emergency meetings, including two on Sunday, of the National Crisis Management Committee to review the situation and discuss future course of action. 

Twelve teams of the National Disaster Response (NDRF) have been deployed while three are on way. Besides this, five more teams are on standby. Taking no chance, the Centre is also deploying Army, Air Force and Navy teams in the danger areas.

“One Composite Column (of Army) has reached Supaul and one in Saharsa. Three more Columns have been mobilised .  One Engineering Task Force has reached Danapur while 2 more are being moved,” an official statement said.

An AN-32 Aircraft will be used to carry personnel and communication equipment from Delhi to Purnia while another is kept standby at Agra. Two Chetaks and 4 MI-17 have also moved to Bihta, near Patna while two Mi-17 helicopters each are at standby at Gorakhpur, Bagdogra and Barrackpore. Naval diving teams are also in readiness, the statement said.

The Centre has also given fifteen satellite phones to Bihar on Saturday night. Twenty-five medical personnel, including two medical officers, 1 preventive medicine specialist and one medical specialist from the military, have also left for Bihar.