Bihar: IAF choppers pressed into relief operations in flood-hit areas

PATNA: Two helicopters of Indian Air Force (IAF) have been pressed into relief operations in Darbhanga, Sitamarhi and Madhubani as the death toll on Tuesday mounted to 106 in the 12 flood affected districts of north Bihar. State disaster management department reported two more deaths on Tuesday.
The Air Force choppers airdropped food packets and relief material in the flood-affected areas.“In a prompt response to a request by Bihar government, the Central Air Command of Indian Air Force has deployed two helicopters at Darbhanga for providing succour to the flood affected victims. The civil authorities and IAF pilots jointly assessed the situation. Food packets and relief material are already being airdropped in the affected areas,” B B Pande, group captain and public relations officer in the Ministry of Defence at Prayagraj, said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Though the choppers have been pressed into rescue and relief operations, but all flood affected districts were on alert in the wake of a heavy rainfall warning sounded on Monday by India Meteorological Department (IMD) for Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Though the water level is receding in the district, we are alert in the wake of warning for heavy rainfall,” Madhubani district magistrate Shirsat Kapil Ashok told TOI.
Patna meteorological centre bulletin on Tuesday evening stated that heavy rainfall occurred at Ramnagar and Valmikinagar in West Champaran. Besides, light to moderate rainfall occurred at a few places in Bihar during the past 24 hours.
Bagmati, Burhi Gandak, Kamla Balan, Lalbakeya, Adhwara, Khiroi and Mahananda rivers were flowing above the danger level at 13 different flood gauges in north Bihar districts on the eighth consecutive day on Tuesday.
Also, the Bagmati had a rising trend at two places in Sitamarhi and Mahananda river at two places in Kishanganj and Purnia respectively. Adhwara river was rising at one place in Sitamarhi and the Khiroi also at one place in Darbhanga.
Meanwhile, Congress Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala in a tweet said, “The situation of floods in Bihar is stingy and deadly; 120 people have lost their lives while more than 25 million are affected. Yet, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and BJP are preparing carpets for distributing compensation for floods. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP and central ministers are unaware. No ‘special flood relief package’, no voice for help. #BiharFloods.”