Nitish Kumar govt to disburse ₹6,000 to flood victims in Bihar

Following the massive disruption caused by the floods, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on October 14, kick-started the process to provide financial relief of Rs 6,000 to the families affected by floods and heavy rainfall in state capital Patna and in other districts. Nitish Kumar called for a high-level meeting of Ministers and senior officials on Monday to review the reason behind unprecedented waterlogging in some areas in Patna amid the incessant rainfall.

The Chief Minister started the process during a meeting with the State Disaster Management Authority and senior state government officials in Patna.

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Relief amount of Rs 6,000 to be disbursed

The affected families in flood-affected districts of Patna, Bhojpur, Bhagalpur, Nawada, Nalanda, Khagariya, Samastipur, Lakhisarai, Begusarai, Munger, Buxar, Katihar, Jahanabad, Arwal and Purnia will be provided financial assistance.
The relief amount of Rs 6,000 will be disbursed through the Public Financial Management System directly to the bank accounts of those affected. Arrangements to open bank accounts for those who did not have one will also be done.

"The Chief Minister has directed that the financial relief shall reach all the affected families before the festival of Diwali," read a press release from the Chief Minister's Office.

On October 10, the Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD) Minister Suresh Kumar Sharma constituted an investigation team to identify the causes and culprits of waterlogging in Patna.  A three-member investigation team has been set up to probe the case. The Ministry has asked the committee for the report in seven days and in 15 days, action will be announced against the culprits

READ: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar orders high-level meeting to review waterlogging

Bihar floods

As many as 15 districts of Bihar, including Bhagalpur, witnessed heavy floods in the past few weeks. According to reports, the state witnessed 255 mm of rainfall between September 27 and 29. In the aftermath of the flash floods in the state, 900 people have been tested positive for dengue, including 640 cases in Patna. The Bihar government on October 3, began the fogging process in the waterlogged areas to prevent the risk of vector-borne diseases in the flood-affected regions.

READ: Bihar: Four people die as Diarrhoea strikes Bhagalpur

READ: Bihar man attempts suicide after being fined for not wearing a helmet

(With Inputs from ANI)