The flood situation in Bihar remained grim yesterday, though the River Ganga and its tributaries showed sign of receding, but hundreds of thousands of affected people have been still struggling for survival, officials said.
The situation, however, was easing in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.
More than 3mn people have been hit by the floods in Bihar, including thousands who have been displaced across the worst-hit 12 districts, officials said.
According to state disaster management department officials, till date, floods have claimed 31 lives.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar yesterday met flood victims during his visit to the affected areas in Patna district and assured all possible help, including timely relief.
Nitish Kumar also directed concerned officials to provide adequate relief and other facilities at relief camps set up by the government.
“The chief minister has ordered to intensify relief and rescue operations in flood affected areas and to serve food in steel utensils provided from the CM’s relief fund,” an official said.
However, at several places, flood victims have staged protests and blocked roads to express anger and impatience over the quality and quantity of government aid that has so far been provided to them.
Flood victims, hungry and homeless, many of them forced to live under open sky, have also expressed anger for not providing fodder for their cattle.
About 900 officials of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the flood-hit districts.
Meanwhile, RJD chief Lalu Prasad yesterday defended his remark on Ganga reaching the doorsteps of the people, saying his statement should be taken in the right spirit.
Lalu Prasad also blamed the BJP-led governments in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand for the mess.
In Madhya Pradesh, the monsoon rains are letting up, easing the flood situation prevailing in many districts, officials said yesterday.
People in many relief camps have started to return home, they said.


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