INDIA: Exodus continues from flood affected Bihar state even as authorities step relief work

Record ID: 1372174

  • Title: INDIA: Exodus continues from flood affected Bihar state even as authorities step relief work
  • Date: 1st September 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) MOHAMMAD JABBAR, FLOOD VICTIM FROM SUPAUL DISTRICT OF INDIA'S EASTERN STATE OF BIHAR, SAYING: "In the beginning we were not expecting that the floods would create havoc. But once the floodwater began to gush into our locality, soon it reached dangerous level and everyone was fearful and loss is unimaginable."
  • Embargoed: 16th September 2008 17:46
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVA19J6RBGTDTGEFEU2JP22CSHF1
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: People continue to flee flood affected areas in India's eastern Bihar state for safer places even as authorities step up relief work.
    People continued to flee flood-affected areas in India's eastern Bihar state for safer places even as authorities stepped up relief work.
    At the railway station in national capital New Delhi hoards of migrants were seen on Sunday (August 31), sitting with their families and whatever they could collect in the name of belongings during the exodus.
    Recounting his harrowing experience Mohammad Jabbar of Supaul district, where water breached the walls of thousands of dwellings, said that they took the news of floods in the region as hoax till the floodwater left them marooned.

    "In the beginning we were not expecting that the floods would create havoc. But once the floodwater began to gush into our locality, soon it reached dangerous level and everyone was fearful and loss is unimaginable," he said.
    Meanwhile federal railway minister Lalu Prasad, who hails from Bihar, announced that railways would not charge fare from the flood victims if they wanted to move out.

    "Railway will not charge any fare from the victims who want to leave for other stations. We have also arranged community kitchen service for the people of flood affected areas. Moreover, the people still marooned in the floods need to be immediately evacuated," Prasad said during a visit to the flood affected Saharsa district.
    Relief continued to pour in as a cargo plane of the Indian Air Force landed in the state capital Patna with food, medicines and tarpaulin sheets.
    The flooding, the worst in 50 years, was caused after the Kosi River breached a dam in Nepal, from where it originates.
    This unleashed huge waves of water that smashed mud embankments downstream in Bihar state.
    The waters of Kosi, known as Bihar's 'river of sorrow' for its regular floods and tendency to change course, gushed into the state inundating vast areas and affecting around two million people.
    Floods have killed more than 1,000 people in South Asia since the monsoon rains started in June, mainly in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where 725 people lost their lives. Deaths were also reported from Nepal and Bangladesh.
    Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, head of the ruling Congress party, flew over the devastated areas by helicopter on Thursday (August 28) and announced 228 million U.S. dollars in aid for rescue and recovery efforts.
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