Bihar flood destroys Rs 150-crore crop

NEW DELHI: Ravaging floods in Bihar have destroyed crops worth over Rs 150 crore so far and the figure could further rise in the coming days, a senior state government official said on Wednesday.

"Crops in 1.25 lakh hectares of area have been lost in the floods, and the total loss is estimated to be over Rs 150 crore," a senior official at the state Agriculture Departmen.

Paddy and maize crops have been washed out completely, he said, adding that pulses, vegetables and plantation crops such as banana have also been damaged.

The current floods have caused maximum losses in Supaul, Araria, Madhepura and Purnia districts.

According to the state Agriculture Department, the damages are estimated on the basis of area under crop and average yield levels in the flood-hit districts.

"We have not been able to send our officers to the flooded farm lands to assess the crop damage, as our top priority has been to evacuate people to safer places," he said, adding that the exact estimate of crop losses could go up after the field assessment.

Flood waters started flowing into Bihar when the Kosi river flowing from Nepal breached its banks two weeks ago.

Agriculture experts fear that Rabi crops may also get affected if the salty silt accumulates in the farm lands following the receding flood waters.