Over five lakh evacuated as flood situation eases marginally

PATNA: The flood situation in Bihar today showed signs of improvement with the water level receding in five north-eastern districts following reduction in discharge in the Kosi river. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said over five lakh marooned people have been evacuated so far.

"Over five lakh marooned people have been evacuated so far and the rest, too, would be shifted to relief camps and safe shelters in the next three days," Kumar said after a meeting with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) team led by its vice-chairman General N C Vij.

Later, addressing a Press conference along with several top state officials, principal secretary of the state's disaster management department R K Singh claimed over 5.5 lakh marooned people had already been evacuated and the rest about 1.5 lakh would be rescued over in three days' time.

He said 15 Army columns with 150 motorboats and around 1,700 personnel and three columns of the Navy with 45 boats and 135 men as also 395 jawans of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) with 137 boats were assisting the state police machinery in the relief and rescue efforts.

Ten more Army columns with 1,120 men and 100 boats were on their way.

Three more helicopters would join the nine IAF choppers tomorrow for airdropping relief, while two Cheetah helicopters would be pressed into service to spot those still marooned.

"Instructions have been issued to district authorities to evacuate even those who are reluctant to leave their homes fearing theft of assets and property," Singh said.

The state administration had pressed into service 28,000 troops of district armed police and special auxiliary police jawans to guard the properties left behind by the victims.