Floods in Bihar claimed eight more lives on Thursday, taking the toll to 135, reported PTI. According to the Disaster Management Department, around 31 lakh people in 1,934 villages have been affected by the Ganga, which has been in spate.
Of the 12 flood-hit districts, Bhojpur is the worst affected with 12 deaths reported so far. The other affected districts include Vaishali, Samastipur, Buxar, Saran and Munger. The Ganga is flowing above the danger mark at several places while other rivers like Kosi, Sone, Ghaghra, Punpun and Burhi Gandak are also in spate.
National and State Disaster Response Forces volunteers are carrying out relief and rescue operations through the day. According to the Disaster Management Department, around 3.44 lakh people have been evacuated to safer places and 1.74 lakh people have been accommodated in 433 relief camps. As many as 227 medical teams are treating the flood victims.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar visited the relief camps in Patna where he asked officials to focus on the quality of relief materials and sanitation for women. However, Opposition parties alleged that the government was reluctant and relief materials were not reaching the victims on time, reported The Hindu. Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, who met the flood victims in Vaishali district, said, “Whatever is being provided in the name of relief to the flood-hit people is just eyewash. People are managing and living on their own”.
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