PM grants Rs 500-cr flood relief to Bihar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who undertook an aerial survey of flood-affected districts in Bihar on Saturday, announced a Rs 500-crore assistance to the state.

Modi, during his 90-minute stay in the state, surveyed four flood-torn districts – Purnia, Katihar, Araria and Kishanganj.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi accompanied the prime minister during the aerial survey in a helicopter.

Later, Modi held a meeting with chief minister, his Cabinet colleagues and top officials to take stock of the damage caused by this year’s flood.

“The prime minister was informed that of all the 18 districts affected by flood, Araria was the worst hit. And of the 418 deaths reported so far, maximum casualty was reported from Araria where 80 people have died so far. Altogether 1.6 crore people have been hit by the flood this year,” an official of the Disaster Management Department said after the meeting.

The prime minister assured all possible assistance besides granting Rs 2 lakh as compensation to everyone killed in the flood.

The main Opposition party RJD, however, slammed Modi for doling out ‘peanuts’ at a time when the state was facing such a huge calamity.

“During Kosi flood in 2008, the UPA regime had given Rs 1,100 crore to the then Nitish government. Now that there is a ‘friendly’ government at the Centre, it has given Bihar merely Rs 500 crore,” said Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav.

Sushil Modi, however, dismissed Tejashwi’s charge and said that “Rs 500 crore was the immediate relief. More fund will be granted once the Central team carries out a detailed survey and assessment of the damage caused in different districts.”

Modi, who was received at Chunapur airbase in Purnia by Nitish, later left for Delhi at noon.