Bihar rains: Death toll reaches 43, Kaimur records highest deaths

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to chief minister Nitish Kumar over the catastrophe and took stock of the emergent situation on Monday night.
Residents row a makeshift boat to cross a flood-affected area following heavy monsoon rainfall in Patna. (Photo | PTI)
Residents row a makeshift boat to cross a flood-affected area following heavy monsoon rainfall in Patna. (Photo | PTI)

PATNA: Three more deaths were reported in Bihar taking the death toll to 43 even as there was some relief from torrential showers.

Seven casualties were reported from Kaimur, six each from Gaya and Bhagalpur,  four from Nalanda among others.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Nitish and took stock of the flood situation on Monday night. An official said that the PM assured the CM of all support to the state.

In Delhi, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy termed the flood situation in Bihar as “serious”.

Reddy said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is working closely with the Bihar government while other paramilitary forces are also ready to move in, if needed.

“This is a natural disaster, my colleague Nityananda Rai is looking after the issue from the Ministry of Home Affairs,” Reddy said, adding that 20 teams of NDRF, comprising about 900 rescue persons, are deployed in the state. 

Six teams were deployed in Patna, which has witnessed very heavy rains and waterlogging in last three days, an official of the Home Ministry said. Two IAF helicopters also joined rescue and relief work.

The Bihar government has informed the National Crisis Management Committee that floods have hit 16 districts. The disaster management department intensified relief work.

Motors worked on a war footing to pump out rainwater. The number of community kitchens has gone up from 219 to 226. According to NDRF sources, 6,000 to 7,000 people were rescued on two days.

Fire at Patna’s Rajendranagar area adds to misery

Panic spread at Nala road in Patna’s Rajendranagar area on Tuesday evening when a fuel tank of a petrol pump caught fire under mysterious circumstances.

The employees of pump ran for cover after the flames started spreading around the pump. Fire engines reached the spot and stopped the fire from spreading to densely inhabited areas.

It took 45 minutes to douse the blaze, the police said. The Patna administration evacuated nearby residential complexes as a safety measure.

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