Nitish Kumar undertakes aerial survey of Purnia division to assess flood situation

PATNA: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Monday undertook an aerial survey of Purnia division to take stock of flood situation in different blocks of Araria, Kishanganj and Katihar districts.
Accompanied by the state’s chief secretary Deepak Kumar, additional chief secretary (water resources) Arun Kumar Singh and the disaster management department’s principal secretary Pratyay Amrit, the CM flew over the flood-affected villages in Forbesganj, Sikti, Plasi, Jokihaat blocks in Araria district, Thakurganj, Kochadhaman and Terhagachh blocks in Kishanganj district and Balrampur block of Katihar district to have close view of flood-marooned people.
The CM also held a meeting with district magistrates (DMs) of Araria, Katihar, Kishanganj and Purnia districts at Chunapur airport (Purnia) and reviewed in detail the ongoing relief and rescue operations in the affected areas. He asked the officials to expedite rescue and relief works in the affected villages.
On return from Purnia, the CM asked the road construction department’s principal secretary Amrit Lal Meena and the rural works department’s secretary Vinay Kumar to undertake aerial survey of flood-affected areas to find out how many state highways and rural roads have been damaged due to the current floods. Nitish further asked both the officials to take necessary steps to ensure restoration of road connectivity at the earliest where roads have been washed away by the flood waters.
At the behest of the CM, the DMs of four worst-hit districts—Darbhanga, Madhubani, Sheohar and Sitamarh—were on Monday asked to undertake aerial survey of affected areas in their districts so that they have a fair idea about the affected areas and which area require more relief materials.
The CM said altogether 24 teams of NDRF and SDRF have so far been deployed in different districts to rescue people from the affected areas.
Nitish further directed the DMs of all 12 flood-hit areas to set up adequate number of relief camps and community kitchen to provide shelter to the flood-marooned people.
Earlier on Sunday, CM undertook an aerial survey of several flood-hit blocks in Darbhanga, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Sheohar and East Champaran districts and issued necessary instructions to the DMs for expediting relief works.