PM Narendra Modi assures all help to storm-hit Bihar

NEW DELHI: With Bihar being hit by a severe storm, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tonight spoke to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and assured him of all central assistance.

He said Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be visiting the state to take stock of the situation caused by the storm that ravaged 12 districts and killed 42 people.

"Spoke to Bihar CM @NitishKumarJDU ji on situation arising due to storms in various parts of the state. Assured all assistance from Centre," Modi tweeted.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also tweeted, "May god give strength to grief-stricken families of several Bihar districts to sustain loss of life caused by heavy storm. I stand by them."

The issue was also discussed at a meeting of the Union Cabinet.

Bihar was hit by severe Nor'wester which affected districts in north and northeastern parts of the state including Purnia, Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar, Madhepura, Supaul, Saharsa, Bhagalpur, Samastipur, Darbhanga and Madhubani.

Kumar, who conducted aerial survey, said in Patna that the exact extent of the destruction is being assessed.