Widespread water-logging triggered by incessant rains has thrown normal life out of gear in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh as more than 80 people have been killed in the last few days. The National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), SDRF, IAF have been pressed into service and they are carrying out round the clock relief and rescue operations. Over 6,000 to 7,000 people have been evacuated from affected areas in Patna after torrential rains hit the state over the weekend.
NDRF commandant Vijay Sinha said that boats are being used to rescue stranded residents in the Rajendra Nagar area of the state capital. "Since yesterday (Monday) 6,000-7,000 people including the elderly and patients have been rescued from the area. We are now concentrating on the distribution of relief materials," he said. A meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee chaired by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba was held to review the flood situation in Bihar.
Rescue and relief operations were undertaken on war-footing as the NDRF deployed 19 teams in 14 districts of Bihar and evacuated more than 4,000 people including women, patients, children and elderly. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the extent of the floods in the state. Modi assured Nitish of "all possible help" by the Centre to tackle the flood situation, in a telephonic conversation. "Spoke to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar ji regarding the flood situation in parts of the state. Agencies are working with the local administration to assist the affected. Centre stands ready to provide all possible assistance that may be required," Modi tweeted.
Nitish Kumar, accompanied by the minister for water resources Sanjay Jha and Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar, conducted an aerial survey of the flooded areas before reviewing the situation across the state at a high-level meeting where he interacted with district-level officials through video conferencing. "Distribution of relief and rescue of stranded people will pick up as water would be flushed out with the help of pumps being brought here from Bilaspur. We are also gearing up to meet the challenge of infectious diseases that are known to strike water-logged areas", the chief secretary told reporters.
More than 350 people have been killed in rain-related causes in India, Nepal and Bangladesh this monsoon season, which runs from June through September.
Pune district inundated after heavy rains
Intense rain lashed various parts of Pune district, with 17 people killed in rain and flooding related incidents, police said. “A total of 3,500 people were shifted to safer locations at camps set up in parts of the city, and at least additional 5,000 people have got affected in some or the other way,” said Pune Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao.
Box
Sushil Modi, family rescued
Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Modi and his family were rescued on Monday, three days after being stuck at their home in Patna due to widespread flooding that has thrown life into disarray. Modi and his family were stuck at their home due to water-logging in the area. They were rescued from their Rajendra Nagar residence. Modi refused to talked to media and left the area soon after being rescued by personnel of the National Disaster Response Force. Unceasing rain has led to a deluge in Patna over the last few days. Photos and videos shared on Twitter showed streets inundated with water and citizens stranded in various parts of Patna. Most areas of the city have been flooded with knee or waist-deep water.
